The Dark Marches (RPG blog)

Chapter Six: Re Nastcosta

2009-05-06T00:51:00.013+02:00

STARTING

Both sides start in the positions laid out at the end of Chapter 5. Sir Adley and his small army are positioned to the south and slightly around the eastern edge of the farm. Caught by surprise they are still in column with Sir Adley’s men at the head of the column (to the east of the farm and heading up the slope as they mach for Grippen), followed by Sir Carnog’s men. Sir Roger Flor and his retinue bring up the rear.

The Loyalist good guys

Sir Bohemond and his unit are also travelling in column at the south end of the table, moving from the tree line and up the ridge.

The Royalist good guys

Neither side is ready for battle and the first order is to dress one’s lines as hastily as possible.

The sides are as follows:

Player 1: Palle (Overall commander of the Loyalist army)

Sir Adley De IVES. (Knight in green, grey and orange).
Lambert FERRYWAX. (Squire in padded leather)
6 Mounted in full armour. (Norman cavalry in green/grey)
15 Foot soldiers in full armour. (Norman infantry in green)
20 Foot soldiers in partial armour. (Norman skirmishers in padded leather)
6 Archers in partial armour. (Norman crossbowmen in green)
1 Ballistæ.

45 elements

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Player 2: Rasmus

Sir Reginald CARNOG. (Knight in blue & yellow)
Darcy JARBLE, Squire. (Norman noble with bare head)
Avery CARNOG, Esquire. (Spanish knight in blue)
7 Mounted in full armour. (Norman cavalry in blue)
12 Foot soldiers in full armour. (Norman infantry in blue)
10 Foot soldiers in partial armour. (Norman skirmishers in blue)

(32 elements)

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Player 3: Tracey

Sir Roger FLOR. (Knight in blue & white)
Lady Marigold FLOR (Female turcopole)
Lady Marjory FLOR (Female turcopole)
Lady Meredith FLOR. (Female turcopole)
Pieter HOOGABOOM. (Knight in brown)
9 Foot soldiers in full armour (Teutonic infantry)
4 Archers in partial armour (Teutonic crossbowmen)

(18 elements)

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Player 4: Oleg (Overall commander of the Royalist army)

Sir Bohemond DASHFERN. (Knight in red)
Niccoló SIGISMUNDO (Knight in red, yellow & black)
Inigo (Knight in black)
3 Elephants of War (Elephants)
8 Mounted in full armour (Norman cavalry in red)
12 Foot soldiers in full armour (Norman infantry in red)
9 mounted archers in partial armour (Turcopoles)

(35 elements)

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Player 5: Jan

The FALCON. (Brian Boru)
8 Bros. of the Sacred Grove in full armour (Saxon tribal warriors)
14 Morden warriors in partial armour (Unarmoured Saxons)
16 Morden archers in partial armour (Saxon archers in green & brown)

(39 elements)

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Player 6: Peter

Cedric of Morden (Saxon leader with red cloak)
Voric (Saxon skirmisher with blue & red shield)
Morded (Saxon skirmisher with blue & red shield)
8 Morden Warriors in full armour (Saxon warriors with blue & shields)

(11 elements)

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Chapter 6: Conclusion and aftermath

Mid morning on the 31st Mae. 1623.

The morning mists had lingered long in the shadows of Kelling Wood and as the small army of Sir Adley De Ives approached a burning farmstead, they discovered the long anticipated peasant rebellion had apparently begun. A farmer and his daughter, loyal to the Earl, were being attacked by their own farm hands, rebellious louts, intend on pillage and rape. Rufus of Castelopea, a gentleman comrade of Sir Adley De Ives rode hence and slew the traitors forthwith.

Sir Adley halted his column and the nobles debated what was to be done. The original plan of crossing the river at Lower Gripen to attack the house of the pretender, Sir Bohemond Dashfern was thwarted as scouts returned the news that the bridge had been destroyed by Sir Bohemond’s men. It was decided that the army would take a longer alternative route and cross at the Ford of Marriot whilst Rufus would cross the river with ten men to the east of Gripen and cut off communications between Gripen and Morden Forest. Rufus set off at once whilst Sir Adley’s army got back into formation.

As Sir Adley was preparing to march, a distant sound was heard. To the east lay Kelling Wood and from its depths came the sound of a great trumpeting cry. All eyes turned to the misty trees and the horses became restless. As the men watched in amazement a large body of troops appeared from the mist moving west, accompanied by war elephants.

The battle began.

Sir Adley de Ives and Sir Reginald Carnog moved their forces to take advantage of the farm, leaving skirmishers and archers to form a line whilst they dressed their cavalry columns. Sir Adley left his ballista where it was to the rear of the archers. Sir Roger Flor moved to take the farm.

Sir Adleys front line evaporates under the Morden archers arrow storm. The Falcon turns his attentionon Sir Roger

Sir Bohemond Dashfern, pretender to the long vacant throne of Takshendal was surprised to find a small army in his path, and having only his personal retinue with him was unsure of victory but he elected to take the chance and fight. This was to be his undoing as his main forces were still behind him in Kelling Wood, and north of the River Glun occupying Snoad and neither would reach him in time.

Sir Bohemond elected to move along the ridge and envelope his enemy, trapping them against the farm with the Falcon and his forest men providing blanket archery cover from the rear. This meant the opening stage of the battle saw Sir Adley De Ives and Sir Reginald Carnog’s front line being annihilated under a constant arrow barrage whilst on the western flank several of Sir Rogers arbalestiers used the tree line as cover to return fire against the Falcon’s line. The Falcon attempted to counter the threat from the western flank by moving a group of warriors up the road, but these were unable to engage the Arbalestiers.

The main fight begins on the right flank, the table edge offering an artifical obstacle.
Sir Bohemonds heavy cavalry engages the Loyalist pike line

Their Pike line obliterated, the Loyalist cavalry charge into the fight

Cedric of Morden, an ally of the Falcon, was flanking the main group with a small band of warriors and hearing the sound of combat he headed for the fight.

Sir Bohemond having divided his force into two lines, with his elephants in the rear, halted to wait whilst the archers cut Sir Adley’s lines to pieces. Amongst the elements destroyed in the arrow storm was the ballista. The battle continued in this vein until the Loyalist force, suffering terrible losses in their centre, decided to counter attack. Sir Roger Flor and his retinue quit the farm and began to position themselves on the road whilst Sir Adley De Ives and Sir Reginald Carnog moved their cavalry and pikes forward.

Cedric of Morden arrived from the tree line behind Sir Roger Flor whilst the Falcon and his men were approaching along the road. Sir Roger, caught between two enemies, elected to engage the one and hold off the other with skirmishers. Together with his yeoman, Pieter Hoogaboom, he charged along the road full tilt and scattered the Falcon’s band of warriors, slaying several. The Falcon fell back to a line of Skirmishers he had pulled up from his archers, but this was to be of little use. Whilst Sir Rogers pike men finished off the warriors on the road, Sir Roger, Pieter Hoogaboom and Sir Rogers daughters, hunted the Falcon down. As the old man fled ignominiously, he was felled by an arrow in the back shot by Lady Marjory Flor.

The elephants engage

Sir Bohemond (in red, white, yellow and black) meets his doom

Incensed by seeing their leader shot, the archery line drew their fire against Sir Roger Flor and he in his turn was unhorsed by an arrow. This fulfilled one of the three criteria for sudden victory for the Royalist side, but there was little time for celebration. The skirmishers to Sir Roger Flor’s rear had brought down Cedric of Morden and his men were milling about uselessly by the farm. At the same time, Sir Bohemond’s right hand line was engaged by Sir Adley De Ives and Sir Reginald Carnog, first with pikes, then with cavalry, and the gravity point of the battle shifted to the right flank. Sir Bohemond brought up his elephants and a pike block in an attempt to out flank the Loyalist charge but to little avail. The right flank quickly turned into a bloodied scramble with first an elephant brought down and then Sir Reginald Carnog. Sir Reginald’s defeat meant the Royalist side had fulfilled two of their three sudden victory criteria. This left only the two main commanders left, and they met in the centre of the right flank battle line, surrounded by the dead and dying, hammering at each other until finally Sir Adley and his men slew Sir Bohemond, dragging him from his horse and hacking him to death.

Sir Adley raised the traitors head on a pike and paraded it for all to see and the battle was done.

The carnage.
Approx half the elements on the table were destroyed.

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Aftermath

Sir Bohemond Dashfern and his allies in the Order of Vigilance had long planned their insurrection. Their scheme had been timed to take effect on the first day of Jún, and in all seven of the Counties of Takshendal, Royalist forces had mustered secretly. In Wapontak, an assassination was foiled because Lord Phelonius arrived to spread the warning, and in Fulkingtor, Baron Hubert Bellbottom and his family were massacred whilst on a hunt. In Keresfan an army of southern mercenaries swept out of the Rapthians and overthrew Baron Sackschild, scattering his forces and occupying his house.

Feckletor was already under the control of the Order of Vigilance for Baron Johan Sapwood was a prominent member and as it transpired an important co-conspirator who had used his county’s resources to help feed the growing army hidden in Morden Forest.

Every where else, the rebellion failed as the Royalist’s rapidly learned that their leader had been killed. In Castelopea, the conspiracy was suffocated by intrigue and assassinations before it ever began and in Meklsbeg, the Royalist leader was a mercenary commander named Arnoldo Bragaldo who had so few local connections that his puny force of Mursulan mercenaries was left to fend for themselves by their peasant allies. Baron Nathaniel Grandmantle accepted Bragaldo’s surrender without a single drop of blood being shed. In Doxfortor the Royalist force was too small to be effective by itself. Later investigations showed its leadership had prudently delayed their attack to see which way the wind would turn, but the torture of Arnoldo Bragaldo revealed the guilt of numerous local dignitaries and several were discretely executed.

With Sir Bohemond dead and the Order of Vigilance exposed as traitors, the rebellion was ended. By 7th Jún, the Royalists had control of only the two western most counties Feckletor and Keresfan. The peasant rebellion had failed to manifest itself and the mercenary army under the command of Niccoló Sigismundo had agreed to hand over Overmore Castle, Earl Phelonius’s family and the village of Snoad in return for amnesty. Niccoló Sigismundo himself was unable to return to Casilicus where there was a hefty price on his head, and unwilling to return to the life of a condotieri he struck a deal with the Marshal of Takshendal; Sir Reginald Flatlock, gave up ownership of the Compagnia del Stella and settled as a gentleman of means in Castelopea. In the months to follow he set about writing a book entitled ‘The Art of War’.

The Falcon returned to the forest but very little was heard of him in the next few months until the body of an old man was found on the road from Snoad to Thickly Vale, and various local grey beards identified the former bandit leader. Deep in Morden Forest the out cast community continued to hold their own, according to rumour under the leadership of Cedric Applegrate, ignored by the surrounding counties which were busy dealing with the recapture of Keresfan. This took considerably longer than it ought to have done, but by Septemus, the rebels had been cleared out and the County placed under the authority of Sir Roger Flor.

Of Sir Bohemond Dashfern’s right hand man, he known to Misteline and his companions as Archibald Pillorseed, the man who abducted Silas, there is no sign. Rufus attempts to track the man down but no one he questions has the faintest idea of who the man was or from whence he came. The only clues Rufus finds is from one of Dashfern’s former guards who tells that the man was seldom seen at Dockrey House and whom expresses the opinion that the man sometimes had a slight accent, as of Merdun. This same guard also tells Rufus that the lad with the cleft lip was almost certainly killed because he knew something of the man’s origins.

Eleven months after what eventually became known as the Battle of Gripen, the Grand Arch Duke of Takshendal fell down a flight of stairs and suffered a broken neck, but miraculously survived. In the next few days, as he lay on his bed, slowly dying, his advisors and political allies pressed him to name a successor but the old duke refused to do so, arguing that he still had a great many years of life left in him, and as soon as he was recovered, he was going to initiate a new golden age.

Grand Arch Duke Ranulph Jarvis Underhock, fourth Arch-duke of the City of Takshendal, died on Aprila 21st. 1624, without issue or designated heir. The nobility, with only a few exceptions, declared Earl Phelonius Grambeline to be the rightful heir of the Crown of Takshendal and the city council, all too aware of the deplorable state of the city’s economy, agreed. King Phelonius the First was crowned on the first anniversary of the Battle of Gripen. His first act of decree was to make Sir Adley De Ives Baron of Overmore.

Misteline

Misteline’s early career had been kick started by his having witnessed the attack of the notorious pirate Captain Murder, and the brave exploits of Alesandrox Wormpole. His greatest work of art in his early career was held to be the bronze equestrian statue he sculpted to commemorate the event, and which stands to this day in the central plaza of the Mercantile District.

Having now been present at the Battle of Gripen, Misteline had ample opportunity to feather his bed with numerous commissions, to create new and ever more brilliant works of art and to firmly cement his position forever as the greatest artist of his age. Within days of his return to the city, Misteline began numerous works, including a grand vista of the battle at its climax, a study of Sir Adley De Ives holding aloft the head of Sir Bohemond Dashfern and in the aftermath of the coronation of King Phelonius, an equestrian statue of the king trampling a writhing dragon to be even larger and grander than that of Alesandrox Wormpole.

Drake

Having been instrumental in the rescue of Lord Phelonius Grambeline, Drake was in turn rescued by Sir Adley de Ives and his men when they occupied Dockrey Hall. Some what battered and scarred from his capture, Drake immediately then sought out and rescued Silas from his tower top captivity, tending his wounds and awaiting the outcome of events. Misteline and Nathan eventually arrived at Dockrey Hall, as did Rufus and the four comrades were finally re-united. Dockrey Hall was occupied by Sir Adley De Ives and the Dashfern family were removed to a secure location.

Drake returned to Takshendal with Misteline, and a month after the battle he received the gift of a thoroughbred horse from Earl Phelonius. Unsure whether he could keep such a magnificent animal, Drake was loath to sell it so he decided to send it to the Monasterium in Thickly Vale with Nathan who longed to return to the girl called Liselle.

Much to his surprise, when Phelonius Grambeline was crowned king, Drake was knighted and given Saffron Hall (Sir Adley was moving into Dockrey Hall), with 200 Acres of land, grazing rights in the Marches and the right to equip twenty men-at-arms.

Not long after Drake has taken up residence in Saffron Hall, he is approached by Rufus who wishes to endow a scholarship on the deformed young shepherd of Halkyn Mire. Drake agrees to assist and the shepherd and his sweetheart are soon employed by the new Knight of Thickly Vale, and live happily ever after.

Rufus

Having left Sir Adley De Ives main force with ten skirmishers, Rufus roamed north of the River Glun at will for most of the 31st Mae. During this time he disrupted communications, slew rebellious peasants and caused much mayhem. Towards the evening he penetrated Snoad wearing captured livery and made his way up to Overmore castle where he confronted the Lady Jacinta Grambeline to discover the whereabouts of her mysterious brother. Filled with mortal terror at the sight of her brother’s killer, the lady fell into a paroxysm of screaming and guards came rushing. Pausing only to stab the first man to come through the door, Rufus fled from Castle Overmore and made his way to Dockrey Hall where he met up with his companions.

As the days past Rufus came to understand that he had yet to discover the truth regarding Basilio D’Castelleto and his unsatisfactory meetings with Lady Jacinta had revealed nothing. Approaching the Earl proved impossible as the Earl, and most of the other nobles of Overmore were no where to be found. Instead then Rufus went to see Lady Marjory Flor. From the good lady he discovered that all the nobles except Sir Roger Flor had travelled to Takshendal.

Rufus decided to return to Takshendal himself when Silas informed him that a certain Lukas D’Castelleto had been appointed Commissioner of the Militia in the city. On a cool autumn morning, nine weeks later Lukas D’Castelleto was run through with a rapier and the mystery of Rufus’s assailant was solved. The ghost of Basilio was laid to rest at last.

In the months that followed the Battle of Gripen, deprived of work and adventure, Rufus retired to Takshendal and took rooms in the armorial quarter of the city, not far from Misteline’s studio, and set about writing a book on fencing. Misteline agreed to draw some illustrations, but most of these were accomplished by one of Misteline’s new apprentices as the great master was swamped with work. Misteline agreed to put his name to the drawings however, which amounted to much the same thing. When the book was finished, it was published around the time of the coronation of King Phelonius by Albrecht Greengrass under the title ‘Il Gladiatoria’. Given recent events and the three chapters Rufus had prudently added to his book dealing with the Battle of Gripen and the tactics used, the book became something of a best seller. The accounts in the book soon found direct competition with Niccoló Sigismundo’s ‘The Art of War’ which saw the battle from a first hand perspective and for a short period the two authors were locked in an intellectual spat with each books supporters slinging mud at the other book. This argument died down when Niccoló Sigismundo was found in his Castelopean apartments with his throat cut. A cursory investigation by the city militia indicated the probable culprit being Rufus’s godfather, Don Vito Magliocco D’Castelopea, though no solid proof was found to support a charge of murder.

Silas

The Lord High Sheriff of the Marne Territories resumed his duties after a week’s convalescence, appointing various sheriffs and tax collectors to take on the job of collecting money then setting himself up in offices in Takshendal. Once the conflict in Overmore County settled down, Silas began raking in the dough. Political silent, efficient and ruthless in the application of raising funds, Silas had managed to acquire sufficient funds to prepare for the day when the king was crowned and he would be replaced as having belonged to the former regime.

Sure enough, on 17th Jún. 1624. Silas was thanked for his service to the city and by the 26th he was under investigation by the Militia, charged with stealing tax money for his own purposes. Having anticipated this, Silas had prepared for the eventuality and though certainly guilty, he avoided a conviction by having obliterated any and all evidence of his self preservation. Silas retired from the Militia and to the outside world he become a private business man, but beneath his offices Silas opened a clandestine gambling den where patrons could also imbibe of a new vice, known as somniferum.

Fabian

Fabians body was never found. According to several prisoners taken from the Rebel leadership, his death was not undertaken by any one associated with the actual rebellion, but probably by a different faction amongst the satellites of Sir Bohemond Dashfern. According to a report which passes through Silas’s hands in Augusta. 1623. Fabian was an agent and assassin working for Sir Reginald Flatlock.

Thank you all for a good game and thanks to Oleg for taking pictures

Chronology of Events

2008-09-11T13:50:00.044+02:00

1438.
The Last King of Takshendal goes missing and the LORD HIGH CHANCELLOR of TAKSHENDAL assumes Authority of the City in his absence.

1491.
The Philosopher Carl Marcus Peat publishes ‘The Struggle Within’.

1493.
Carl Marcus Peat commits suicide whilst being detained by the City Militia.

1584 – 1591.
Takshendal is witness to a series of actions by Revolutionary Students and other Malcontents by the name of ‘Strugglers’. One group distinguishes itself above all others in its Ruthless Campaign to implement Peat’s ideas. This group is called the BODGERSFIELD GANG.

Summer. 1597. Chapter One
The Notorious Pirate CAPTAIN MURDER attacks the City of TAKSHENDAL with a Fleet of Ships but is defeated largely due to the efforts of the City Militia and the much beloved Alesandrox WORMPOLE. Amongst the many people defending the city is also a young artists apprentice named MISTELINE.

12th Augusta. 1622. Chapter Two begins
A man is found dead in an alleyway by the City Militia in Takshendal. It is subsequently discovered that this man is Marius COPPERCUP, the son and heir of a wealthy Merchant of the City. Due to the Delicate Balance of Power in the City’s Merchant Class, Adriana Arabella WORMPOLE hires MISTELINE to solve the Mystery of the Murder in a bid to prevent an open conflict from occurring. Adriana Arabella WORMPOLE is the daughter of Alesandrox WORMPOLE and the most powerful Merchant in TAKSHENDAL.
MISTELINE is generally regarded as being a Formidable Intellectual, a Man of Great Learning and Letters, and something of a Genius with Regards to Natural Philosophy, Optical Illusions and the Perspective Arts. More importantly, he is regarded as being politically neutral.

14th Augusta. 1622.
In the course of their investigation MISTELINE and his Companions (DRAKE, RUFUS & SILAS) discover the Corpse of CAPTAIN MURDER who it transpires has also been murdered in the same alley way as Marius COPPERCUP.

CAPTAIN MURDER it seems was a Renegade Revolutionary and former Founding Member of the BODGERSFIELD GANG, named Phelonius ADDLEGATE. After his defeat in 1597 he appears to have lived the life of a Vagrant. He was murdered by Captain DOGMOSS of the City Militia whom he had attempted to blackmail. DOGMOSS had been a Secret Struggler, and turned Traitor in 1597.

18th Augusta. 1622.
MISTELINE and his companions solve the Mystery of Marius COPPERCUP’S Murder and in doing so discover a Deadly Plot to Overthrow the GRAND ARCH DUKE of TAKSHENDAL. Marius COPPERCUP was procuring young women for a local Banker named Augustus MARROW when he was murdered by Captain DOGMOSS in an attempt to remove COPPERCUP as a possible Witness to the Murder of Phelonius ADDLEGATE, also known as CAPTAIN MURDER.

In the course of their Investigation, MISTELINE and his Companions realise that MARROW and several co-conspirators have Smuggled Hired Soldiers from MURSULA and plan to Assassinate the GRAND ARCH DUKE and over throw of the City. The Discovery of Papers and Documents in a Secret Hide Out establishes that MARROW and his Friends are merely Pawns in a far wider Plot whose Mysterious Leader goes by the name RENAS COSTA. MISTELINE alerts Captain Quartermoon and the plot is foiled. Augustus MARROW Commits Suicide, as do several of his co-conspirators. Some are killed in the fighting and some are captured, but Aurore MARROW (Augustus’s wife) escapes the City and Disappears. No one is found by the name of RENAS COSTA.

Amongst the effects of Augustus Marrow and his co-conspirators, Misteline finds several Mysterious Black Stone Shards with Disturbing Powers of Suggestion. MISTELINE deduces that these Black Stones can be used to influence people against their will and further investigation reveals that the Stones were procured from a distant village named SLAPERSHAVEN. Adriana Arabella WORMPOLE Sends MISTELINE and his companions to SLAPERSHAVEN to Investigate the matter and if at all possible, prevent any one else from getting their hands on more Black Stones.

Chapter two ends

15th Septemus. 1622. Chapter Three begins
MISTELINE and his Companions arrive in SLAPERSHAVEN.

19th Septemus. 1622.
MISTELINE and his Companions find the Black Rock, but are confronted by several Men-at-Arms lead by a well dressed stranger who calls himself Archibald PILLORSEED. A Fight breaks out and MISTELINE and his Companions are forced to leave the Black Rock in PILLORSEED’S hands. MISTELINE attempts to trap PILLORSEED by means of the winter weather, but fails. MISTELINE and his Companions return home having established the size and location of the Black Rock.

Chapter three ends

14th Aprila. 1623.
Whilst on his way to the County of OVERMORE, CAPTAIN BLACKKETTLE, LORD HIGH SHERIFF of the MARNE TERRITORIES is ambushed and killed by unknown forces, presumed to be Bandits under the Command of The FALCON.

18th Aprila. 1623.
SILAS who is an ambitious Captain in the City Militia, formerly of PORT HAVEN, is promoted to LORD HIGH SHERIFF of the MARNE TERRITORIES and ordered to deal with the matter of OVERMORE which has refused to pay its taxes.

13th Mae. 1623.
SILAS arrives in THICKLY VALE and stays the night with Sir Adley De IVES.

Chapter four begins...

14th Mae. 1624.
SILAS is ambushed by bandits and several knights on the road to SNOAD. He survives the battle not least due to a rescue by Sir Adley de Ives and LORD PHELONIUS. After the battle he finds serious skin lacerations on the body of one of the dead knights, a man presumed to be the leader of the group. SILAS recognizes the markings as the effects of the BLACK ROCK and decides to send for MISTELINE.

Chapter five begins...

14th Mae, continued....
SILAS travels to SNOAD, and OVERMORE CASTLE where he meets the Earls wife, the Lady JACINTA CASTELLETO GRAMBELINE and the Earls oldest son; MILES GRAMBELINE. They express their joy at meeting the new Lord High Sheriff and order a celebratory feast be prepared. Various local people of importance arrive at the Castle to present themselves to SILAS, some of whom attempt to buy favours.

SILAS sends a letter to MISTELINE to inform him of the discovery of another victim of the BLACK ROCK and requesting his help

During the night, SILAS awakes from a listless sleep, and peeks out into the castle courtyard where he spies a young lad speaking to The Earl. He attempts to move closer but is betrayed by a creaking beam. Unable to hear what is being said, he watches from cover as the lad leaves the castle and The Earl returns to the Great Tower. SILAS notes that the lad is returning to SNOAD, and has been seen by the Gate Guard. The Gate Guard tells SILAS that the boy was about 12-14 years old and had a cleft lip, but was not any one he recognised. The Earl had agreed to speak to the boy despite the late hour.

The Next day The Earl is found to have disapeared under mysterious circumstances. SILAS breaks into his office to find the room in complete disarray with much evidence of fire and even a gaping hole in the wall. The locals immediately blame the DRAGON of HALKYN MIRE and the consensus is the DRAGON has done away with The Earl. SILAS is unconvinced and notes various clues.

18th Mae. 1623.
MISTELINE, DRAKE & RUFUS arrive in KNOWLES END where DRAKES sister in law BERENGARD and nephew NATHAN live. They find BERENGARD alone and in misery, NATHAN has run away, apparently with a local vagrant known as AMOS GRANGER. Neither has been seen for over two months.

19th Mae. 1623.
The friends unite and go to see The Earl's office. It is found that the masonry is crumbling, so collapsing the wall to give the impression of an attack by The DRAGON was probably not too hard, the falling masonry did not attract attention probably due to the shape of the sloping land beneath the tower, the late hour and the scarcity of people on that side of the Castle.

Lady JACINTA CASTELLETO recognizes RUFUS from the old days in CASTELOPEA where they both grew up. Her face goes pale and she avoids him.

DRAKE finds tracks of horses nearby showing that a group of riders approached to within a mile of the castle at roughly the time of The Earl's disapearance. He back tracks these marks to the edge of KELSIE'S WOOD and then on from there to the road by COPON'S TOWER. but finds no further signs to indicate which direction they may have taken from there. He speaks to the guards in the tower and to a local peasant who lives nearby but they seen nothing. DRAKE realises that the guards are probably not even awake during the early hours of the morning. He returns to the castle and examines its walls thoroughly. He finds that climbing onto the wall is easiest from the direction of KELSIE'S WOOD.

20 Mae. 1623.
SILAS assumes legal authority and responsibility for the County of OVERMORE and appoints MISTELINE as a DEPUTY, gving him a Warrant and a bag of 100 CROWNS. DRAKE visits Baldwin FOXBRUSH and inquires after unusual travellers, or any one on a horse. FOXBRUSH is cool and does not offer any information. DRAKE then discovers several recently shod horses in a nearby field belonging to Sir Bohemond DASHFERN of DOCKREY HALL.

Towards the evening MISTELINE and his companions row out onto the River MARNE with a local smuggler, known as OLD SAM. They attempt to find the rumoured hidden village but encounters with numerous ships in the dark and a sentry in the rushes forces them to return to SNOAD with but one prisoner.

21 Mae. 1623.
RUFUS interogates the prisoner who names himself as Adolpho DE VIOLA SAN SEBASTOS, a Casilicucian mercenary of the famous COMPANY of the STAR, captained by one Nicolo SIGISMUNDO. According to ADOLPHO, the company is but one part of a far larger army under the Command of The FALCON.

Silas is visited by a Drover named Samkin LARCHMANTLE by whose testimony he learns that Earl Grambeline has quietly been moving large numbers of cattle from CASTELOPEA to KNOWLES END where another man, named Horace THISTLECOTE (who has disapeared) would take possesion. LARCHMANTLE does not know what THISTLECOTE was doing with the cattle, nor whence they were taken.

SILAS recieves a letter from Sir Baldwin De GRAVELOCK of GRENEHOWE, summoning all the Nobility of OVERMORE to a meeting at OVERMORE Castle on 22nd Mae.

RUFUS receives a message claiming to be from 'Basilio' summoning him to come alone to a meeting at a local barn on the night of the 21st. RUFUS went to the meeting and DRAKE, MISTELINE and FABIAN quietly approached the barn from the opposite direction. RUFUS entered the barn and four men attempted to trap him within. The trap failed and the four men were defeated, with FABIAN shooting three men dead and the fourth, shot by DRAKE, dying slowly of blood loss. No information was obtained except the dying man's last few incoherent words, which contained the name "Lemmy", and the fragment of the word "Castel...".

22 Mae. 1623.
In the early hours of the morning SILAS's house is broken into and a scuffle breaks out between SILAS's guards and a mysterious hoodedn burglar. In the ensuing commotion, Tarquin MOSSBANK is stabbed and the intruder makes his escape.

Tired and hungry, MISTELINE and his companions return to Snoad in the early hours of the morning. After learning of SILAS's break in, they return to the inn and sleep for a few hours. Upon awakening they learn that SILAS and one of his guards have been poisoned, most probably by the intruder during the night having dosed a keg of small beer. SILAS survives, but the guard dies.

MISTELINE and his companions attend the meeting called by Sir Baldwin De GRAVELOCK at OVERMORE CASTLE, with MISTELINE acting in SILAS's stead. Also present at the meeting were;

Lady Jacinta D’CASTELLETO-GRAMBELINE.
Miles GRAMBELINE, Esquire.
Cornelius HORNCROFT, Squire. Sam TROUT, Squire. William TAPLARCH, Seneschal.
Doctor MURTLEDOCK, Physician

Misteline. Rufus CARRARESI. Drake. Fabian.

Sir Baldwin De GRAVELOCK. Knight .
Wilhelm De GRAVELOCK, Esquire. Archibald PILLORSEED*, Squire. Allain FOXCOTTLE, Squire

Sir Adley De IVES.** Knight.
Robert De IVES, Esquire. Lambert FERRYWAX, Squire

Sir Reginald CARNOG. Knight.
Avery CARNOG, Esquire. Stewart CARNOG, Esquire. Darcy JARBLE, Squire.

Sir Bohemond DASHFERN. Knight.
Lamont SAXEFORD, Squire

Sir Roger FLOR. Knight.
Lady Marigold FLOR. Daughter. Lady Marjory FLOR. Daughter. Lady Meredith FLOR. Daughter.

Brother Mortimer DOGMOSS. Church of Holy Law.
Father Wendell MURDOCH. Church of Divine Grace.
Brother Floyd COXMARROW. Church of Divine Grace.
Fletcher FAIRWORT
Baldwin FOXBRUSH

* Not the same man whom MISTELINE and his companions encountered at the Fight for the Black Rock.
** The Knight who came to rescue SILAS at the Ambush on the 14th Mae.

During the meeting MISTELINE explained SILAS's situation and told the assembled throng that a messenger had been sent to TAKSHENDAL to supply Letters of Authority from the GRAND ARCH DUKE as well as Morris BLACKKETTLE's personal copies of the County's Tax Papers.

Sir Adley De IVES informed MISTELINE of a long standing Plan by the Nobility, under the Leadership of the EARL to establish a Secret Army of Mercenaries to combat the growing threat of The FALCON, the idea being to lure the Bandit into a pitched battle in open ground. This Secret Force of Mercenaries was said to be hidden some where in the Dales in the vicinty of KNOWLES MILL.

The Nobles assured MISTELINE that their own military resources were ready for war and could in the field within five to seven days. It was also established that with SILAS incapacitated, the official command of any armed force would fall to Miles GRAMBELINE.

Later in SNOAD, FABIAN and RUFUS apprehended DRAKE's nephew NATHAN but failed to catch his companion whom they took to be the mysterious vagrant named Amos GRANGER. NATHAN was returned to DRAKE who took him to the 'Stork and Toad'.

23 Mae. 1623
MISTELINE and his companions sought after a comprehensive library and were directed to the MONASTERIUM of the Church of Divine Grace in THICKLY VALE. Here MISTELINE found Thousands of Books and Maps, and with the help of an old Librarian, managed to decipher some of the notes he had copied from Albrecht D'SPEAR'S notebook.

The building marked 'Torretta del fiore giallo' was identifed as SAFFRON HALL; the House of Sir Adley DE IVES.

The temple marked in KELLING WOOD was identified as being a set of ruins upon which The Fox of the Forest inn was built.

RENAS COSTA was identified as being a mispronounciation of RE NASCOSTA, (Hidden King).

Various translations of the D'SPEAR notebook.

Il re ha ordinato che un monumento dovrebbe essere eretto sopra l'alloggiamento. Più successivamente questo monumento si è trasformato in in un tempiale - The king ordered that a monument should be erected over the chamber. Later this monument became a temple

Torretta del fiore giallo - Tower of the Yellow flower

Un grande monumento è stato eretto sopra l'alloggiamento agli ordini del re, qui i monaci ha costruito un monastry. Il drago è stato posto per riposare fino al giorno in cui sarebbe necessario ancora. - A Great Monument was erected over the chamber at the orders of the king, here the monks built a monastry. The dragon was laid to rest until the day when it would be needed again. P 5 Il Raconto di Kellis

Il drago si trova dietro l'ultimo alloggiamento fino a che il giorno Takshendal non debba denominare - The dragon lies behind the last chamber until the day Takshendal must call. P23 The Tale of Kellis

Consiglio dei nove -Council of the nine

Quandro il re nascosto rinvia nove vi riunrete apra lutimao portello dietro il mirrior e liberi il drago – When the hidden king returns, Nine shall you gather. Open the last door behind the mirror and release the dragon

Al Sud della foresta di Kellings – South of the forest of Kellings

Sotto la terra. Un alloggiamento di nove archi – Under the earth. Nine lodging arches

None of the books mentioned in Albrecht D'SPEAR'S notebook were to be found in the MONASTERIUM Library, but MISTELINE did find two interesting books;

The first was THE HISTORY OF THE NOBLE ORDER OF VIGILANCE by ANON.
The book details the History of the Order of Vigilance from circa 1070 to 1568, listing upwards of two hundred Noble Houses, including all eight of the names on Albrecht D'SPEAR'S list. The Order of Vigilance was supposedly founded by King ASROD III as a means of ensuring the rule of the Royalty and according to the book, was a Council of Nine Members, all the heads of a Noble House. Membership was by election and never hereditory.

The second book was ARTEFACTS OF THE TIME OF THE KINGS by Blake REDCUT.
This book detailed a long list of valuable artefacts, relics and works of art from the Age of Antiquity to 1438. In this book MISTELINE found a description and illustration of a Battle Standard of King Harolf which was said to have been shaped like the Dragon of Halkyn Mire. The book explains that the standard was built by a famous artisan smith named Mathew BROOKLEAF, and was Solid Gold with Ruby Eyes. There were no references to the standard being used in battle and its fate was a mystery.

24 Mae. 1623
After a pleasant stay amongst the monks, nuns and children at the MONESTERIUM, MISTELINE and his companions return to The Fox of the Forest inn in THICKLY VALE. RUFUS is sent north to SNOAD with a coded letter for SILAS and narrowly survives an ambush on the KELLING WOOD ROAD. He arrives in SNOAD and hands the message to SILAS.

SILAS is abducted in SNOAD by a dozen cavalry led by a Black Knight. RUFUS makes good his escape and returns to THICKLY VALE, avoiding the KELLING WOOD ROAD which he finds blocked by a barricade and some Thirty to Forty woodsmen. Whilst making his way around KELLING FOREST, on the High Ground to the South of the RIVER GLUN, RUFUS spies SILAS's abdutors heading East on the DOXFORTOR ROAD. Six of them turn to give chase, but the River and its Marshy banks defy's them. RUFUS escapes easily.

MISTELINE and DRAKE examine the Fox of the Forest inn and satisfy themselves that it is built over the Secret Temple described in the papers taken from Albrecht D'SPEAR's Journal. MISTELINE finds a possible entrance behind a book shelf in the wine cellar, but does not attempt to open it. Sir Adley DE IVES and several of his men arrive at the inn and tell MISTELINE that they will probably re open the KELLING WOOD ROAD on the morrow.

MISTELINE and his Companions note that FABIAN has gone missing.

25th Mae. 1623
In the Early Hours of the Morning, MISTELINE and DRAKE are awoken by the Inn Staff to examine the dead body of a Gypsy Musician whose Corpse has been hidden behind a Water Cistern. No immediate conclusion is reached as to the motive or identity of the killer. The Inn Keeper disposes of the body.

MISTELINE notes FABIAN's horse is missing from the stables.

MISTELINE returns to the wine cellar and discovers some one has broken through the book shelf only to find a stone wall barring the way. Undetered MISTELINE establishes there is a draught emanating from the wall.

Sir Adley DE IVES and his men return from unblocking the KELLING WOOD ROAD. They report an engagement with some 40 Bandits who fled into the forest after a brief exchange.

MISTELINE and his Companions return to SAFFRON HALL with Sir Adley DE IVES and a meeting is held to debate the kidnapping of SILAS whose abduction leaves Sir Bohemond DASHFERN as the most Senior Noble in the COUNTY. It is also established that Sir Bohemond DASHFERN's house DOCKREY HALL is also directly in line with the route taken by SILAS's abductors.

The Cook from the Fox of the Forest inn is established as the only person who knew of MISTELINE's Interest in the Bookshelf in the Wine Cellar. She is Summoned and Questioned, and identifies the Inn Keeper as the only person who asked what MISTELINE was up to. Sir Adley DE IVES men rush to the Inn to Apprehend the Inn Keeper and bring him back for questioning. The Inn Keeper confirms having asked the Cook about Misteline, but denies any knowledge of the Broken Bookcase.

Sir Adley DE IVES decides to begin mobilising his full military resources, and sends a message to Sir Reginald CARNOG, whom he declares utterly trust worthy, to do likewise. A messenger is also sent to KNOWLES MILL where according to Sir Adley DE IVES, Earl GRAMBELINE's Secret Mercenary Force is encamped.

MISTELINE and his Companions return to the Inn and examine the wall behind the Broken Bookcase. The Wall is broken down and a Large Man Made Pit is discovered on the far side. The Pit is approx. Forty Yards deep with water filling the lowest Eight Yards. The ceiling of The Pit is supported by Eight pillars with Curving Supports four great Stone Beams. The whole structure appears to be holding up the Courtyard and Stable building of the Fox of the Forest inn.

26th Mae. 1623
MISTELINE and his Companions examine The Pit further. NATHAN is sent in to clambour about within and bring light to bear and in doing so reveals a circular hole in the centre of the ceiling. An Examination of the Stables reveals a large stone disk hidden below the flag stones and corresponding to the Recepticle Stone of Albrecht D'Spear's notes.

A further chamber similar to the Inn cellar is Discovered below a house on the far side of The Pit and MISTELINE and his Companions come to the conclusion that Albrecht D'Spear's notes are flawed and that the building drawn in his notes was built on top of this subterranean structure.

A further examination of the buildings in the centre of the village reveals masonry scavanged from the large building that was probably built over The Pit.

MISTELINE and his Companions return to Sir Adley DE IVES house where they meet with Sir Roger FLOR and his daughters.

27th Mae. 1623.
MISTELINE goes to the House of Sir Roger FLOR where he peruses the Library. He establishes that the SECRET TEMPLE described in Albrecht D'SPEAR's note book is never shown in maps predating 1190, but on maps drawn after 1236 the current location of THICKLY VALE is marked by ruins. MISTELINE also notes that in the same period, none of the original towers that characterise the area are marked until 1236 either. Prior to that date, the region is always shown on maps simply as MORDEN FOREST, though sometimes there is a legend 'here be ye Dragon'. MISTELINE also discovers that there has been No Documented Sighting of the DRAGON of HALKYN MIRE since 1432

As the day draws to a close, MISTELINE returns to the MONASTERIUM to cross check his discoveries with the maps there. He discovers they correspond to Sir Roger FLOR's maps. He also discovers that whilst most of the Noble Familes have fought each other in the past, the Houses of GRAMBELINE and DASHFERN have always maintained close links both with each other and with the old Royal House of TAKSHENDAL.

DRAKE, RUFUS and four of Sir Adley DE IVES men ride north to KNOWLES END where they over night with Sir Reginald CARNOG.

28th Mae. 1623.
DRAKE, RUFUS, four of Sir Adley DE IVES men and a Guide from Sir Reginald CARNOG ride to KNOWLES MILL where they discover the peasants to be living in fear of a Rotund Dark Stranger who calls himself HARDWICK, though DRAKE identifies the man as probably being either a Tursk or possibly a Zubarian. DRAKE attempts to sweet talk the local Blacksmith but to no avail.

RUFUS meets a strange deformed sheep-herder who despite hideous physical abnormalities speaks as an Educated Man, even recognising RUFUS from a wood cut in the 1622 'Almanac of Takshendal'. RUFUS discovers that HARDWICK has been terrorizing the locals for almost three Years. Suspicious of the Tursk, DRAKE and RUFUS arrest him and after some robust interogation HARDWICK confesses to being an employee of the EARL of OVERMORE, charged with buying cattle from a drover in KNOWLES END and then sending them on to SAND HUTTON where ships belonging to the COMPANY OF THE STAR would take them away. When pressed to say where to the cattle were taken, HARDWICK guessed they were being taken to the RIVER MARNE.

DRAKE and RUFUS decide to return with their prisoner to THICKLY VALE.

MISTELINE and NATHAN travel north and rendezvous with DRAKE, RUFUS and their Guards in GALLOWE. Fearing a possible ambuscade from returning via the same route, MISTELINE advocates returning to THICKLY VALE by an alternative route. This brings them to Sir Roger FLOR's house at dusk where upon HARDWICK is interogated by MISTELINE and some of Sir Adley DE IVES men. HARDWICK reveals his contact with

29th Mae. 1623.
DRAKE sneaks into KELLING WOOD and discovers several sentry's. After a quick Recce, he withdraws to report to Sir Adley DE IVES

30th Mae. 1623.
The body of a young lad with a cleft lip is found near LOWER GRIPPEN. MISTELINE and his companions investigate and whilst doing so, encounter the Retinue of Sir Archon CRABAPPLE, LORD HIGH TREASURER of TAKSHENDAL accompanied by Sir Bohemond DASHFERN and various other dignitories en route to THICKLY VALE to visit Sir Adley DE IVES.

A feast is held at the House of Sir Adley DE IVES, with MISTELINE, RUFUS and NATHAN attending whilst DRAKE travels to GRIPPEN.

31st Mae. 1623.
DRAKE breaks into the Castle of Sir Bohemond DASHFERN in GRIPPEN, discovers and then Liberates Earl Phelonius GRAMBELINE from the Dungeons. The Earl makes good his Escape but DRAKE is Captured.

Sir Adley DE IVES, Sir Archon CRABAPPLE, Sir Bohemond DASHFERN and various others engage in an early morning hunt, but shortly after this has begun, Sir Archon CRABAPPLE is found murdered and meyhem ensues. MISTELINE examines the body and concludes the LORD HIGH TREASURER has been murdered. Shortly here after, Lord Phelonius GRAMBELINE turns up riding on a mule and the identity of RENAS COASTA is established as Sir Bohemond DASHFERN.

Sir Adley DE IVES returns from the hunt and The EARL issue orders. Sir Adley is to take all his available forces and capture Sir Bohemonds house which is largely undefended. In the mean while, Lord Phelonius will travel to WAPONTAK to raise a second army and spread the news of the rebellion.

Sir Adley marches North. A burning farm attracts attention and hopefull of an encouter Sir Adley cuts across the fields on his way to the GRIPPEN Bridge. By Chance Sir Adley meets Sir Bohemond and the two forces engage in battle.

2008-09-11T13:45:00.002+02:00

SIR Baldwin De GRAVELOCK of GRENEHOWE.
Resident of MANSFORD HALL

1,107 Acres of land with Grazing Rights in the Dales and Marches and the Right to Equip One Hundred Men-at-Arms.

As described by Morris Blackkettle:

A proud and sometimes haughty man. Very wealthy but despite his considerable assets, De Gravelock seldom pays his taxes on time and often appears reluctant to pay any expense that does not have an immediete personal advantage. I have had to visit him personally on four occaisions to secure full payment of taxes.

In his youth Sir Baldwin took part in numerous expeditions of a mercantil nature to Skavva. During this time, I understand he saw considerable action fighting alongside the Skavvian Prince Olaf of Kötka.

Sir Baldwin and Lady has but one child, his son Wilhelm.

2008-09-10T18:54:00.021+02:00

A Portrait of the LADY KATERINA MERRILOCK,
Daughter of SIR RUPERT MERRILOCK of HAM, a Knight of the Noble Order of the Ivy
Painted by Misteline of Takshendal, 1623

The previous year had been somewhat mixed when I received a letter from Silas. At first sight it seemed that he had done rather well for himself, gaining the position of Lord High Sheriff of the Marne Territories; bringing great responsibilities and rewards. There had been problems around Overmore for the last few years, though; bandits in the woods and marshes, and the Earl of Overmore had used the bulk of his taxes to combat them, rather than pass them to the Takshendal exchequer. The previous Sheriff had been killed by bandits, or, according to some, a great Dragon.

Silas had put on a bold, almost brazen face as he travelled to Overmore; all but inviting attack upon himself. This happened on the 14th Mae although the details seem somewhat confusing. There was an ambush, no Dragon of course, but there seemed to be 2 types of Human assailant.
Bandits came first; for the most part they were typical ruffians using light weapons and bows. However, several were larger and brawnier men, clad in animal skins but using heavier weapons to great effect. These pulled Silas from his horse, but he survived. So did they.
The second wave of assailants were southerners, and these were more or less annihilated. The main point of Silas' letter to me was that the corpse of their officer bore all the signs of the black stone. He sent for me to investigate.

In turn, I contacted Drake and Rufus.
Drake had his own problems; he had had a brother once, who had a son; Nathan. Drake's brother died, and I get the impression that he had sent some support to the widow and his young nephew. Nathan is now an adolescent, or a young man, and it seems that he has disappeared. His mother had written to Drake, who had agreed to come and find him, good man that he is. Conveniently, Nathan lived a a few villages away from Overmore castle.
Rufus was much changed. It seems that he had been shot and badly wounded. He felt betrayed and double-crossed, but was somewhat reticent about the whole incident. Still, he agreed to come with us.
We travelled on the north road, by carriage without incident.

18th Mae. 1623.

At Nathan's village; a collection of hovels with the appropriate name of Knowle's End, we met Nathan's mother. She was old, and obviously worn down by a life of grinding poverty. I sketched Nathan according to her description, although I fear that my work lacks artistic merit. She said that Nathan had departed after an argument, possibly with a suspiciously nondescript man called Amos Granger. Young Nathan had a book; essentially a rural equivalent of the writings of the Strugglers (I have some sympathy of course; the life of a peasant is short and brutal, and our rulers are generally both grasping and corrupt, nevertheless such writings are generally ill-thought out drivel). It certainly looks like Nathan had picked up some revolutionary ideas and gone to join the bandits.

Drake left some monies with the woman, and a promise to do what he could to find Nathan, and to protect him from his folly if possible.

Image is purely decorative

19th Mae. 1623.

On to Snoad and Overmore castle. The place was in disarray, as the old Earl, who is the most likely successor to the Grand Archduke of Takshendal, had disappeared a week or so ago, the night after Silas arrived. The overt signs suggested that he had been taken from his study, in the middle of the night, by a Dragon. Any slightly less cursory examination suggested that this had been faked.

The Earl looked likely to succeed the ruler of Takshendal. Unless he doubted this, or had another overwhelming motive, it is very hard to see why he would have done anything other than behaved as a loyal subject.
For several years, bandits, possibly revolutionaries, and perhaps foreigners have been raiding from the forests and marshes (2 regions, but with ready access between them by water). There may be a whole hidden city out in the marshes.
The Earl had kept taxes payable to the Crown back for this time, claiming to be using them to counter the threat. Actually very little money had been put into this; a ship (the Viper) had been endlessly outfitted, and Overmore castle was in a terrible state.
The Grand Archduke has been using the Takshendal armed forces to fight foreign wars, for his personal profit.
The Earl has / had 2 sons, one abroad (on campaign, and presumably still alive), the other was in the castle and genuinly surprised at his father's disappearance. He had also remarried to some southern Woman, who had borne him a young daughter.
On the night of his disappearance, a lad with a harelip had called on the castle, spoken to him, and (I believe) left.
Soon afterwards, fire was started in the study (probably with lamp oil), the window and part of the rickety outer wall pushed out, and dagger marks resembling great claw scratches were carved in the walls. The door was normally open, but had been locked from the inside (the person had presumably left via the window / hole).
The fire destroyed the accounts (or they were removed under cover of the fire). The previous Sheriff kept his own accounts though.
There was a suspicious scratch on the parapet above the window / hole, possibly caused by a grapple (though I suspect a rope was lowered from above).
Several powerful horses had come and gone on the north (study) side of the castle.
The wife is up to something, and Rufus told me that she is sister to the man who shot him. It is a long feud, but if I take Rufus' word for it, her family are particularly vicious schemers.
Although it is possible, it is very unlikely that someone could have got into the castle at night, without help. There had to be someone inside the castle to start the fire, and such.

A tentative conclusion is that the Earl had been up to something for years, received a message to meet 4-5 horsemen, fixed a rope over the parapet, went to his study and locked the door / faked the Dragon, abseiled down the wall and dislodged the rope.
But why?

There is also the whole business of the black stones and Renas Kosta. So far we have seen cultists and madmen, but used by a political organisation that appears to favour local revolution, but with considerable involvement by southerners (who are, admittedly, mercenaries).

In addition, I have notes about a hidden temple, which is probably somewhere fairly close, in bandit-infested forests.

Pages copied by Misteline from the notebook of Albrecht di Spear

Up the River:

From the 20th of Mae 1623, Silas redoubled his efforts to take over the area. As I understand it, the Earl is the ruler, but his current status undetermined. In the event of his death, his son assumes the title (there are 2 sons). His wife, Jacinta isn't really an heir, but she is effectively untouchable, and no doubt she wields considerable influence. If the Earl returns, he simply resumes his... rule, unless Silas declares him a traitor (and he survives long enough to justify his charge).
Meanwhile, Silas is de facto in charge of the local bureaucracy, so the Earl's ambiguous status suits him very well.
He is not at all certain about anyone's loyalty, though.

Silas summoned me from the Stork and Toad, and asked me to investigate the Earl's disappearance. I demanded some sort of warrant, and received the dubious status of Deputy Sheriff, and a pouch with 100 crowns to cover expenses. Scarcely ideal.

The Earl had held back about half the taxes due 2 years ago, and 9/10ths of those from the previous year. These monies have disappeared.

During the day, Drake investigated rumours of the mysterious horses, although unsuccessfully. He visited the houses near to Meklsbeg Road, where the trail had gone cold. He talked with various people including the Yeoman Baldwin Foxbrush, and saw some fine horses belonging to Sir Bohemond Dashfern (one of the names from Albrecht di Spear's notebook, the other identifyable one being Gravelock). These horses had all been shod recently. I do not assume that this was to confuse Drake, although it is odd. Possibly it is something one does in Mae, but I suspect that the horses are being readied for something over the next few weeks. Drake could not track down the farrier.

He did, however, see Mortimer Dogmoss, a priest and younger relative of Captain Dogmoss. The Dogmoss family is local.

Image is purely decorative

I decided to see quite what was going on upriver, and asked Silas if he knew of a smuggler who would be willing to cooperate (for whatever reason). An underling, Tarquin Mossbank (a nice man, although I didn't like the way he looked at Drake), recommended Old Sam.

Old Sam, who had sailed the river for much of his youth, was willing to hire a boat, guide us by night, and keep it to himself afterwards, for 3 crowns (which I thought rather generous, but the man proved his value). We left at dusk, to catch the tide upstream; Old Sam, Rufus, Fabian, and of course Drake rowed.

Sam told us that few fish, or travel on the river now. There used to be people on the banks and islands, but everyone has moved out because of bandits, the marsh people... and the people of the forest, of whom one does not speak. About 20 years ago, people started moving away.

Just then, Old Sam warned us to be quiet, and we hid the boat amongst reeds. A few minutes later, a great merchant galley swept past, her lights unlit despite the dark. Such a vessel could have a crew of a couple of hundred, and a hundred or more tons of cargo. Her colours were not clear, but I thought that I saw an 8-pointed sunburst, or star.
We resumed our journey.

A few hours later, Sam beached the boat amongst more reeds, claiming that there was less cover ahead, and probably sentries.
Drake went through the reeds on foot, alone. A sentry heard him, and, discretely raised the alarm with an odd owl sound. Drake encountered, ambushed and captured a young sentry, and returned to the boat. Other sentries were beating the reeds, but Sam heard another vessel approaching from downstream. We hid for a few minutes, and a small ship, her lights ablaze, passed us. We heard southern voices raised in song.
We departed, and arrived back at Snoad soon after dawn.

21st of Mae. 1623.

We took the prisoner, with a sack over his head, to Silas' holding cells.
Rufus was the main interrogator.
The prisoner is a young mercenary Adolpho a condottiera of the Company of the Star. Their symbol, and captain's colours, is an 8-pointed star. The company was great until a recent defeat, now it is somewhat reduced.

Adolpho had been taken to the hidden camp by galley, arriving 2 months ago. He had been recruited in the normal way, and expected the war to be over within a year (which means that it should start when the sowing is complete, which is very soon indeed). His unit was infantry, mostly pikemen, but there are also cavalry units, including armoured cavalry. He reckons that the camp numbers 10 000 in all, although most are peasants. The leader is The Falcon, who appears to be a peasant himself.

I suggested that Silas send a couple of men to observe traffic on the river, perhaps based in the ruins on a small island.
I also investigated artillery to interdict the river. The Earl had 2 catapults and 3 ballistae. I am not sure how effective they could be, hurling fire. The Viper should be made ready in any case.

All of this doesn't help us find the Earl, although I suspect that we may have located Drake's nephew Nathan.

Ambush at the Blue Barn:

Silas informed us of one Samkin, who had been importing cattle and other livestock from the south, and selling them to a local buyer; Horace Thistlecote. Horace had not been waiting to receive the cattle as usual, so Samkin came to Snode / the Castle seeking instructions and payment.

An urchin delivered a letter to Rufus; Meet me at the Blue Barn tonight - Basilico. The Blue Barn is a local building which no one appears to own, and Basilico is Rufus' old enemy.

Silas had also received a letter [which I assume you will attach] showing that some of the local nobility were not prepared to accept Silas' effective takeover. They had invited themselves to a meeting with him at the Castle tomorrow. Silas and I have to discuss this.

However, we were all very tired and retired for most of the day.

In the evening, Rufus explained that the meeting at the Blue Barn was a matter of honour, and that should we interfere, he would kill us (even if he had been slain in the inevitable ambush). Logic is not Rufus' strength I fear, nor even military tactics, though perhaps I should not be the judge of this. I noted that Rufus was observed by a tough looking man in the Stork and Toad for much of the evening. Anyway, Drake, Fabian and myself determined to interfere anyway, even if it was a distraction rather than an ambush.

To get the attention and cooperation of the locals, I sketched a likeness of the barmaid, and donated it to the establishment. I was quite pleased with the results, I must confess.
Later, I drew a likeness of Horace Thistlecote, from Samkin's rambling descriptions. Scribes may be able to copy it, though we do not have time to seek this man ourselves. This took much parchment as I had my inks, but had somehow mislaid my silverpoint. I must seek some debased silver and work it into a stylus.
Samkin had been bringing in livestock for some months now; enough, in my opinion, to feed and supply several thousand soldiers. Whatever is due to happen is imminent.

At dusk, Drake, Fabian and I left to work our way through the woods behind the Blue Barn. The tough man had left a short while before, and Drake would approach along the road later.
Drake went ahead, moving silently through the dark undergrowth. I followed with Fabian, and seemed to find every dry twig. There were men lurking in the woods, and in the barn, although I am unsure when they went into the building. Rufus entered the building fairly early (I saw the familiar plume of his hat, swaying from an upper window). Fabian borrowed my crossbow and shot several of the men in the throat and head. Drake attempted to capture one by shooting him in the legs. I hung back, as I had given up my crossbow, and cannot avoid noisy branches as Drake can. I could see so much more, and wished to communicate with the others.
Light can be split by a crystal prism. The colours we see are not the only ones; beyond blue is a colour that agitates bees (whilst they do not react to red). Perhaps I could make a devise to flash the bee colour, and soldiers could carry trained signalling bees. Alas, lantern light cannot be split into all the colours, so I have to think on this matter. It is strange that burning pigments does not always colour the flame as it would colour paint, but then the principles of alchemy do not all hold true.
As I lurked at a corner of the barn, a man circled into me. I drove him back with my blade, and he fled. Fabian shot him.

Image is purely decorative

The villains had set fire to the barn, but Rufus escaped. All the assailants died (Drake's arrow had penetrated one of the great vessels of the thigh). They were dressed as woodsmen, though well armed. Silas arranged for them to be taken off, such that whoever sent them would not know if we had taken prisoners to question.
The Blue Barn burned to the ground. I suspect that it had been prepared to burn around Rufus.

It was a decoy as well, as someone stabbed Silas' assistant Tarquin, whilst probably attempting to examine, remove or destroy papers.

Gallowe

2008-09-10T18:50:00.004+02:00

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L. Horne House. Jeremiah Hitchcomb
M. Cobble House. Johann Ferrescox

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Gallowe is a small, unimportant village with roughly 150 inhabitants.

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Landowners and other Important Persons

Inigo FAIRFEATHER. Farrier
Jeremiah FAIRFEATHER. Saddlemaker
Oliver FAIRFEATHER. Harness maker
Johann FERRESCOX. Yeoman of COBBLE HOUSE
Leander FERRESCOX. Tanner
Jeremiah HITCHCOMB. Yeoman of HORNE HOUSE
Ferris MARROW. Charcoal burner
Ronald TAMPLARCH. Iron monger and general store keeper
Cornelius THORNAPPLE. Innkeeper of YE CART & COW

Thickly Vale

2008-09-09T23:33:00.025+02:00

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A. Saffron Hall. Sir Adley De Ives
B. Thatchet House. Pieter Hoogaboom
C. Fen Tower.
D. Fen Flower Hall. Sir Roger Flor
E. The Monasterium. A holding of the Church of Divine Grace
H. Melilot House. Albrecht Hurdlecote

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Thickly Vale is a large and prosperous village of some 300 people, bordering the great Morden Forest. In recent years it has been plagued by bandits and in-fighting. Saffron Hall represents the law of Earl Grambeline and is supported by Fen Flower Hall and the Monasterium. Sir Adley de Ives is generally seen as a hard but fair man. A part of Morden Forest extends to the north of Thickly Vale, This wooded area is named Kelling Wood and is not inhabited by the bandits. It is used by the villagers as common ground.

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Landowners and other Important Persons

Aaron BANKFLOWER. Cooper
Zeonhard BURRDOCK. Innkeeper of THE FOX OF THE FOREST
Allard CUTBROCK. Thatcher
The CHURCH of DIVINE GRACE. Owning the MONASTERIUM
Sir Adley DE IVES. Knight of THICKLY VALE. Resident of SAFFRON HALL
Trevellen FAIRWORT. Trader. Factor for the MERCHANTS GUILD of TAKSHENDAL
Owen FARROWHART. Blacksmith
Lambert FERRYWAX. Squire to Sir Adley DE IVES
Marigold FLOR. Daughter and heir to Sir Roger FLOR
Marjory FLOR. Daughter of Sir Roger FLOR
Meredith FLOR. Daughter of Sir Roger FLOR
Sir Roger FLOR. Knight of FEN FLOWER HALL
Ivar FURROWFLOWER. Lumberjack
Ivarius GRUMBLEHATCH. Coppicer of THICKLY VALE
Pieter HOOGABOOM. Yeoman of THATCHET HOUSE
Albrecht HURDLECOTE. Yeoman of MELILOT HOUSE
Iris JARROW. Timber merchant
Bertram MARCHDOWN. Engineer
Barton MURDOCH. Basket maker
Virgil PEATRUCKLE. Iron monger and general store keeper
Usher STILEBARROW. Potter
Francis WARTFOX. Charcoal burner

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Lord Phelonius Grambeline

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LORD Phelonius GRAMBELINE EARL of OVERMORE
Resident of OVERMORE CASTLE
Knight of the Order of the Unicorn
Lord Justice of the Peace for the County of Overmore
Defender of the Church of Divine Grace

As described by Morris Blackkettle:

The Earl is a profound and commanding man. Loyal to the Grand Arch Duke and to Takshendal he maintains law and order in Overmore despite difficult odds. In recent years he has led his men against The Falcon numerous times, both in open battle and in running skirmish. So far he has proven unsuccessful in catching the elusive outlaw. I do not doubt that the Earl will evenually prevail for he is not a man to allow victory to such rabble!

The Earl usually pays his taxes pronptly, though in later years the costs of defending the county against raiding has taken its toll. It should also be noted that Overmore has not received its rightful assisstance from Takshendal either and the Earl has had to borrow money in order to maintainsecurity and prosperity for the people.

In his youth, the Earl rode to war, twice against the Turkus and once in Skavva where he fought at the Battle of Arushof. Even in his later years the Earl is a large, powerful man.

The Earl has two sons of a previous marriage, and a young daughter by his current wife, the gracious Lady Jacinta. His younger son has taken to the high seas and is currently far away in distant Bazilia. His eldest son, Miles lives at Castle Overmore where he assists his father.

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Sir Roger Flor

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SIR Roger FLOR of FEN FLOWER HALL in THICKLY VALE

Knight Protector of the Beloved Society of Green Men

98 Acres and the Right to Equip Twenty Men-at-Arms

As described by Morris Blackkettle:

A curious character. I never quite know what to make of Sir Roger. He is a slight man with a decidely detached manner. A scholar of natural philosophy, he is far better suited to intellectual pursuits than farming, and as a consequence, his holdings have a lackadaisical appearance that ill does him credit. The appearance of shabbiness and general neglect does not seem to concern Sir Roger however for he often appears wearing the worn garb of a peasant and many a time I have been unable to locate him as a consequence of this. He is usually to be found in his gardens however, examining some new marvel of the Creator. Sir Roger is something of a huntsman, but I believe he has no military experience at all, and this despite living in a region plagued with banditry.

Sir Roger usually pays his taxes promptly, but this is mostly due to his daughter Lady Marigold with whom Sir Roger usually leaves his business affairs.

He is a good man, despite his unusual ways, and he lives alone with his three daughters, the Lady Marigold, Lady Marjory and Lady Meredith.

Sir Reginald Carnog

2008-09-09T23:31:00.015+02:00

SIR Reginal CARNOG of KNOWLES END. Resident of HAZELHOCK HALL

267 Acres of land with Grazing Rights in the Dales and Marches

As described by Morris Blackkettle:

A most jovial fellow, Sir Reginald is perhaps the most hospitable of all the nobles in the County. I have certainly had some fun times in Hazelhock Hall together with the Knight and his family. Sir Reginald is far from being a wealthy knight, his assets do not come close to those of his neighbour Sir Baldwin for example, but if one is a tight spot, then one need look no further for assistance than Sir Reginald. He is a man who can be trusted. Sir Reginald is married to the Lady Hortense of Arus and they have one son old enough to ride to war, and two younger sons who might carry messages. Sir Reginald himself is not a martial man, but he has seen his fair share of skirmishes with the bandits who infest the County of Overmore.

Sir Bohemond Dashfern

2008-09-09T23:31:00.013+02:00

SIR Bohemond DASHFERN of GRIPPEN. Resident of DOCKREY HALL
Knight of the Nobel Order of the Ivy
Knight Protector of the Order of Vigilance

460 Acres of land with Grazing Rights in the Dales and the Right to Equip Forty Men-at-Arms.

As described by Morris Blackkettle:

A man of undoubted ability. Astute, observant and reserved. I find him difficult to describe for he keeps his mind to himself. He pays his taxes promptly, so much so that he is the only land owner in the county whom I have never had to negotiate with. He has surprisingly few guards, appearing to command such respect in Grippen that he does not require them.

In his youger days he saw several campaigns in the south, fighting along side various Casilicucian nobles. He was also a noted jouster in his day but I have never seen his name on the lists during my time as High Sheriff.

Sir Bohemond lives with his wife Lady Alicia. They have four young children.

Sir Adley de Ives

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SIR Adley De IVES of THICKLY VALE. Resident of SAFFRON HALL

983 Acres of land with Grazing Rights in the Marches and the right to Equip One Hundred Men-at-Arms

As described by Morris Blackkettle:

Sir Adley is tall, some what dour and very intelligent. He nearly always pays his taxes on time and often provides an escort. An extremely wealthy man he lives in great style and often dotes on his wife, the Lady Mirabella. They have four children, all grown to adulthood. His two sons are both in the south on campaign and his daughters have married.

Grenehowe

2008-09-09T23:31:00.011+02:00

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A. The Priory of St Agnes. A holding of the Church of Holy Law.
B. Malowe House. Albert Sully.
C. Hordings Mill.
D. Mansford Hall. Sir Baldwin Gravelock.
E. Marigold House. Alain Wortnot.

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Grenehowe is a large and prosperous village with some 300 inhabitants and a further 250 in the immediate region. The village is dominated by the great tower of the Priory of St Agnes which is said to be over a hundred feet tall. Sir Baldwin Gravelock, who lives on a large estate outside the village, is the local representative of the Earls law.

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Landowners and other Important Persons

Willem GATECOTE. Dry stone waller
Alleyne JACKBILL. Well digger
Guilleme MARCHBROW. Tanner
Barrett POLDROON. Farrier
Sutton POLDROON. Yeoman of FENNEL HOUSE
Ranulph RUTFUDGE. Horse trader
Harris SAXMOSS. Wheelwright
Albert SULLY. Yeoman of MALOWE HOUSE

Knowles End

2008-09-09T23:30:00.014+02:00

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H. Hazelhock Hall. Sir Reginald Carnog
I. Barley House Mill.
J. Trog House. Henricus Whimbelcut

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With 600 inhabitants and a further 250 or so in the surrounding area, this is the largest village in Overmore County. Knowles end is so big that the locals refer to it as 'The Town'. Unlike the other villaes in Overmore County, Knowles End is protected by a stout palisade wall. Sir Reginald Carnog of Hazelhock Hall is the local representative of the Earls law and he has men posted at each of the three gates in the wall.

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Landowners and other Important Persons

Avery CARNOG. Son and heir to Sir Reginald CARNOG
Sir Reginald CARNOG. Knight of KNOWLES END. Resident of HAZELHOCK HALL
Stewart CARNOG. Son of Sir Reginald CARNOG
Garrett CULLPEPPER. Magistrate
Madox GOODCOLLET. Blacksmith
Tigerlily GURNEYBILL. Healer
Allain JARBLE. Spinner & Weaver
Darcy JARBLE. Squire to Sir Reginald CARNOG
Marcel JARBLE. Apothecary
Parslow JARBLE. Innkeeper of YE HANGING MAN
Parsimony JUGHUNT. Scribe, printer and book shop keeper
Alfredo LEADCOTE. Cobbler
Mandrake LEADBELLOW. Hurdle maker
Caleb MELLOWBELL. Trader. Factor for the MERCHANTS GUILD of TAKSHENDAL
Jake NETTLEPENNY. Innkeeper of THE BLUE DRAGONFLY
Penny NUTTHRUSH. Iron monger and general store keeper
Verity PROUDBOW. Miller of BARLEY HOUSE MILL
Tom RAMSHARPER. Cooper
Matheu REDFERN. Hoop maker
Myra RODCROOK. Spinner
Flora TOADFLAX. Innkeeper of GATE HOUSE INN
Henricus WHIMBELCUT. Yeoman of TROG HOUSE

Grippen and Lower Grippen

2008-09-09T23:30:00.012+02:00

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F. Lower Grippen.
G. Dockrey Hall. Sir Bohemond Dashfern.
H. Fields belonging to Dockrey Hall.

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Also spelled Gripen on some maps. This is a small village and a hamlet on respective sides of the River Glun. The total population of both is roughly of circa 150 people. Dockrey Hall dominates the village, though it is hidden from view behind extensive gardens and orchards.

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Landowners and other Important Persons

Manfred ANGLEMOSS. Candlemaker
Sir Bohemond DASHFERN. Knight of GRIPPEN. Resident of DOCKREY HALL
Brother Damien MURTLECOTE. Monk of the CHURCH of DIVINE GRACE
Anthonius NETTLEBROW. Brewer
Mickleman PEATPURSE. Potter
Lamont SAXEFORD. Squire to Sir Bohemond DASHFERN
Bartholomew SWANN. Innkeeper of THE CROWNED CROW
An HORNBILL. Basket weaver
Sam WAXWETHER. Hedge layer
Nigel WRENLATCH. Thatcher

Marriot

2008-09-07T16:06:00.016+02:00

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J. Grenecroft House. Morgan Grenecroft

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Marriot is a small village of less than a hundred people

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Landowners and other Important Persons

Brother Octavio AMBLENOOK. Monk of the CHURCH of DIVINE GRACE
Tristram BUMBLETHRUSH. Innkeeper of GRENECROFTS WELCOME
Benjamin CLOGTHROTTLE. Bodger
Tom CURDLECOTE. Spinner & Weaver
Willem CURDLECOTE. Dyer
Allain DOGMOSS. Bladesmith
Norris DOGMOSS. Blacksmith
Marmaduke FARROW. Well digger
Morgan GRENECROFT. Yeoman of GRENECROFT HOUSE
Urban NETTLEMOON. Millstone dresser

Snoad

2008-09-07T16:06:00.015+02:00

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A. Fulling House. Fletcher Fairwort
B. Poyte House. Antonio Merryman
C. Morganok House. Samuel Vallance
D. Crabery House. Baldwin Foxbrush
K. Kelsies Wood.

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Snoad is the location of Overmore Castle, and serves as the centre of goverment for the County of Overmore. It is the only port in the county but has no real advantage from this, for though Overmore borders the Salten Reach, the wetlands to the north are so heavily silted as to be an impenetrable barrier. Some foreign ships stop by in Snoad, and there are only a few fishing boats. There is a single warship, a Fusta named Viper under repair.

Snoad and the immediate surrounding area has a population of roughly 200 people. It is only the fifth largest village in Overmore. Some of the servants and staff of Overmore Castle live in Snoad as the Castle is but half a mile from the village.

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Landowners and other Important Persons

Gerald ARCHER. Sailmaker

Allain CARTWORTH. Master Carpenter
Borris CARTWORTH. Cobbler
Ferris CRANKWORTH. Ropemaker
Francis CUTTHRUSH. Innkeeper of YE STORK & TOAD
Brother Mortimer DOGMOSS. Monk of the CHURCH of HOLY LAW
Fletcher FAIRWORT. Yeoman of FULLING HOUSE and Factor for the MERCHANTS GUILD of TAKSHENDAL
Baldwin FOXBRUSH. Yeoman of CRABERY HOUSE
Gerald FURRIER. Shipwright of PORT HAVEN
Ferris GABLECLERK. Shipwright of PORT HAVEN
Mervyn GAMNOOK. Blacksmith
Antonio MERRIMAN. Yeoman of POYTE HOUSE
Marius MERRIMAN. Iron monger and general store keeper
Angus METTLEFLOCK. Shipwright of PORT HAVEN
Jeremiah MURDOCH. Scribe, printer and book shop keeper
Father Wendell MURDOCH. Priest of the CHURCH of DIVINE GRACE
Starling NETTLEPENNY. Timber merchant
Tansy NETTLEWICK. Healer
Álf RAIKKONEN. Shipwright of PORT HAVEN
Mathew VALLANCE. Yeoman of MORGANOK HOUSE
Magnus VANNSKÁ. Master shipwright of PORT HAVEN

Chapter 4

2008-09-07T16:05:00.036+02:00

Chapter Four: THE TAX MAN COMETH

From the EARL of OVERMORE, to the GRAND ARCH DUKE of TAKSHENDAL 15th Aprila 1623
Regarding the Death of CAPTAIN Morris BLACKKETTLE, LORD HIGH SHERIFF of the MARNE TERRITORIES
My LORD GRAND ARCH DUKE.

It is with Great Sorrow I write to inform you of the Death of CAPTAIN Morris BLACKKETTLE, LORD HIGH SHERIFF of the MARNE TERRITORIES. His Mortal Remains, and those of his Entourage were found yesterday on the Road from THICKLY VALE to SNOAD. It is my understanding that the HIGH SHERIFF had spent the previous night in THICKLY VALE as the guest of SIR Adley De IVES, and had left his host early on the morning of the 14th Aprila. A few Miles from the village, where the road passes through KELLING WOOD, the LORD HIGH SHERIFF and his men were AMBUSHED and all were most Brutally Slain.

The Nature of the LORD HIGH SHERIFFS death is unusual. The ground had been heavily trampled and torn up, and two horses had been Violently Dissembowled. One man had been Crushed to a pulp. A peasant gathering mushrooms in KELLING WOOD reported hearing the Attack but by the time he had run for assistance from THIICKLY VALE, there was nothing to be done. This peasant reports having heard a Horrible and Prolonged Roaring, the like and sound of which surpassed his knowledge of local fauna and he swears the LORD HIGH SHERIFF and his men must have been killed by the Dragon of HALKYN MIRE. I find this hard to believe for HALKYN MIRE is some way from KELLING WOOD and the Dragon has not been seen for many years. Also, most of the Retinue had been killed by arrows, though these had all but one been removed from the scene of the attack. The trail left was easily tracked and disapeared into MORDEN FOREST. Once again I fear THE FALCON has struck us a Most Deadly Blow and once more I urge your LORDSHIP to assist us against this BANDIT KING.

As Lord High Sheriff, Silas rides forth from Takshendal in his new carriage and fine clothes, accompanied by his newly acquired men-at-arms. A few peasants walking along the road step aside and doff their hats as he passes and the former Captain smiles to him self as he reclines in the plush seating.
”Would you like some wine?” his young, buxom secretary Nicolé asks.
As Silas sips his wine, a young mans face appears at the door.
”My Lord, have you decided which route to take?” Tarquin Mossbank asks.
Silas regards his secretary with narrowed eyes. He has inherited Mossbank from his predecessor and has yet to decide whether or not the young man can be trusted. There is an obvious air of disregard for conventional rules and practices about the young man which Silas finds slightly disturbing, and yet the fellow seems to be an expert in the art of analyzing other people’s financial position. A talent which Silas can well appreciate.
”I have given this some thought” Silas answers as he savours the sight of Nicolé’s décolletage. ”You say there are three roads into Overmore County?”
”Indeed so My Lord.”
”We shall take the same route Captain Blackkettle took. We shall send a message that Takshendal is not intimidated by petty bandits.”
Tarquin Mossbank swallows and runs a quick tongue about his lips, he had not been with Captain Blackkettle on his last fatal journey, but he has read the report. ”As you say My Lord”.
“But My Lord” Nicolé asks with wide eyes, “Are you not a feared of the dragon?”
“The dragon?” Silas chuckles. “No, I fear no such beast.”

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Silas and his entourage make their way through the countryside, stopping at various inns along the way and generally taking their time. They arrive in Thickly Vale on 13th Mae and spend the night with Sir Adley De Ives. During the evenings pleasantry’s, Silas asks Sir Adley about the dragon.
“Tis a local legend” Sir Adley replies. “I put no stock in it myself. I have lived in these parts man and boy and I have never seen any sign of the beast.”
Silas nods, but then leans forward. “Do you realise that many people in the city firmly believe in the dragon?”
“I’m not surprised” Sir Adley chuckles. “I find that city folk are generally ignorant about the world beyond their walls”.
Silas nods again. It is all too true.
“Then, whom or what do you surmise killed Captain Blackkettle?”
Sir Adley’s eyes narrow and he gazes into the fire.
“I don’t know. My first thought was the Falcon, but when I saw those horses... they were ripped apart!”
“...and the ground was trampled and a man was crushed?”
Sir Adley glances up at Silas.
“Dragons are the stuff of legends. They do not exist!”

The next day Silas and his men set off towards Snoad and Overmore Castle on the last leg of their journey. Sir Adley watches them leave from his window, then turns to his squire. “Summon the men and saddle the horses.”
“My Lord?”
“I think we shall follow at a distance and see if our new Sheriff is walking into another trap.”

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Deep in Morden Forest, by a spluttering fire, a man dressed in dappled green sits on a mossy log facing another man dressed in animal skins. Several other men stand at a distance.
“Howard” the man in green speaks with a soft hoarse voice. The other man looks up from the small fire. “I want you to take your boys and meet our new Lord Sheriff and greet him in the manner of the Forest. Henricus and Archibald will go with you. What say you?”
The man named Howard ponders this request presented as an order and nods once. “I will do as you ask, but I shall need more men. The new Sheriff will be guarded well.”
“There is no time to arrange anything else. You must go at once if you are to catch him, but I will give you Peregrino.”
Howard the Woodsman glances across the clearing to where a man in black finery stands beside a large and glossy horse. The Southerner stares back with indolent disregard.
“There is no one else?” he asks.
The man in green smiles and shakes his head.
“I understand how you feel” he replies. “We’re both men of the sward and Peregrino and his companions do not belong here. In other times we would bid him be on his way with the merry tune of our bowstrings, but for now, we need these people. Do not cause trouble Howard. I need them, and thus so do you.”
“As you say” Howard replies and rises to his feet. He plucks a spear from the ground and turns towards his men...

STARTING

Players three and four deploy first, with little time to prepare their ambush it may consist of little more than a fallen tree and 1 d3 traps. Player three deploys directly to the rear of the wooden hut (on the western edge of the table) and then has four rounds before Player one arrives at the southern edge of the table. There is a bend just off table so Player one has no advanced warning of any ambush. If the famers have fled towards Thickly Vale, these may alert Player one.

Player one enters the table from the south and travels north until the ambush is sprung. Player One is naturally allowed to roll for perception.

Player Two arrives at the southern edge of the road 1d6+3 rounds after Player one begins the game.

Player Five arrives at the northern edge of the road 1d6+6 rounds after the ambush is sprung

Player One	Player Three
Silas. Knight 5 x Constables. Mounted 4 x Constables. Un-armoured skirmishers 4 x Constable rangers. Un-armoured. Archers 6 x Retainers Civilians 1 carriage and 2 baggage mules 23 elements	Howard the Woodsman. Warrior. Brother Henricus. Warrior of the Sacred Grove. Brother Archibald. Warrior of the Sacred Grove. 6 x Morden archers . 5 x Morden skirmishers. 14 elements
Player two	Player four
Sir Adley. Knight. 2 Men-at-arms. Mounted Normans. 7 Men-at-arms. Infantry. 4 Archers. Un-armoured bowmen 14 elements	Peregrino. Knight. 4 men-at-arms. Mounted 5 elements
Player five
Lord Phelonius. Knight 3 Men-at-Arms Mounted Normans. 4 elements

VICTORY CONDITIONS

Player one wins by getting Silas across the table, even if he is downed. Note, if Silas boards the carriage then the carriage becomes Silas and to stop him one must stop the carriage. Players two and five win by the same criteria.

Players three and four win by preventing Player one from reaching the far side of the table.

NOTES

1d6 decides the disposition of the farmers. Since player three arrives first, he makes this roll. Player five may take control of the famers if they are loyal to Sir Adley.
1 The Farmers are enthusiastic supporters of Sir Adley and will attack the bandits on sight
2 The Farmers are lukewarm supporters of Sir Adley and will barricade their house.
3 The Farmers flee towards Thickly Vale
4 The Farmers flee into the forest
5 The Farmers are lukewarm supporters of The Falcon, but will allow the bandits to use their house for the ambush.
6 The Farmers are enthusiastic supporters of The Falcon and will join in the fight along side Howard the Huntsman

The buildings are very solid and difficult to destroy. They are thatched however and the weather has been dry so setting fire to them is not hard. Door ways give +1 in cover. The fences and walls give +2. Trees give +1 for partial cover and +2 for full cover.

Every where on the map is Rough going, except the road which is Good (it being summer) and the forest which is difficult. Inside the buildings is also Rough due to the clutter. The farm has four pigs in the sty, but all other animals are out to pasture.

If only three players turn up, player four gives his elements to player three and takes over from players three and five.

MAP

CONCLUSION

After a pleasant night at the house of Sir Adley De Ives, Captain Silas and his entourage make their way along the road to Snoad. To the east the fields are filled with rosy cheeked peasants toiling merrily in the blazing sunshine and Silas waves to them as he passes by. Several children run beside the road side laughing and squabbling over the apple Silas tosses to them.
To the west is the brooding mass of Morden Forest. Silas regards it with gloomy foreboding. After a few miles, the entourage comes to a group of farm houses and as they approach, Silas turns to Andrew Joxenbrush, his sergeant-at-arms.
“Is that a tree trunk lying in the road?”
“Aye my Lord. It looks like it”
“How far do you think we are from the place where Captain Blackkettle was killed?”
“Not far my lord” Joxenbrush replies. “Perhaps you should don your helmet. A fair archer might be able to kill you with a single well placed arrow from those trees”
Silas regards the trees with barely concealed malice. “Confound it! Why don’t they cut them back from the road at least?”
He looks back along the road suddenly with a frown. Raising his hand he stops the carriage and Nicolé’s tousled head pokes from a window.
“What is it my Lord?”
Silas holds up a hand for silence and all hear the distance sound of hooves.
“Some one is approaching”
“My Lord!” a voice calls out and looking up Silas see’s a faint streamer of smoke arching across the sky. Up ahead a farm house has been set alight and in the dry heat, the thatched roof has already caught. A choking scream from the trees brings Silas to his senses and he looks about wildly. Incredibly the bandits have laid a trap on the exact same road. Nervously, Silas looks about, half expecting to see a dragon but noting instead the looks of his men, both eager and apprehensive. As pain filled cries and the sounds of sword play begin from amongst the trees, Silas draws forth his sword and slams down his visor.
“You” he points to a rider, “Go back and find out who is behind us! The rest of you, follow me!” He kicks his spurs and urges his charger into the trees. Ahead of him, several dirty faced men in faded earthen colours appear from amongst the bushes.
“Kill the Sheriff!” a voice cries out.
“Die you dogs!” Silas roars out as he swings his blade out to cut a man’s hat from his head. The man fades back into the bushes, and there is a confusion of voices and horses. Suddenly Silas finds himself falling, as hands upon his tunic pull him down.
“My Lord!” he hears Joxenbrush cry out in alarm from some where behind him, and then all is pain as hands and feet punch and kick at him. Some one hefts an axe like weapon and Silas feels the back of his helmet take the brunt of a blow that ought to have killed him. He scrambles to get away but some sits on his back and tries to work a dagger in between his pauldron and back plate. For a moment Silas fears his life is to drain out into the dirt, but a second wave of attack dislodges the man as the battle about the ebbs and flows. Silas finds himself lying beside his dead horse, gazing in amazement at the sight of the battle which is taking place about his carriage. As he blinks away the blood and sweat he see’s a knight all in black armour attacking the carriage with an axe and narrowly missing Nicolé’s head.
“Look out!” he croaks in a broken voice. The Black Knight and several horsemen in dark finery roil about the carriage and Silas is sure they will destroy it, but then a line of soldiers appear and the Black Knight and his companions are swallowed up in a mass of pikes and kicking horses. For a moment Silas see’s Sir Adley astride a great chest nut destrier, his arm outstretched, bloody sword pointing his orders.
Around him the undergrowth is rent by the lesser ranks as the battle continues, and every where is the stench of burning. Silas looks at a body lying close by and is startled to recognize Andrew Joxenbrush with several arrows protruding from his chest and neck.
Anger and frustration boils within his breast but Silas is battered and bruised and his attempts to regain his footing are hampered by the retreat of the bandits. A man on a horse crashes through the trees and Silas recognizes one of his own men-at-arms. The rider jumps from his mount and kneels beside the Sheriff.
“The day is ours my Lord” he shouts.
“We won?” Silas asks in amazement.
The soldier nods, but before he can answer, a long trumpeting cry echoes over Morden Forest.
“By Thunder! What was that?” Silas looks about in amazement
“I don’t know” the soldier swallows nervously, but it sounded like some great beast.
“Probably just a horn summoning more bandits” Sir Adley interrupts. “Are you still living My Lord Sheriff?”

His armour gently removed, his wounds bandaged and with Nicolé gently dabbing his forehead with a damp clothe, Silas sits at the side of the road watching the farm house burning merrily. Sitting on a fallen log brought from the tree’s Sir Adley and Lord Phelonius, Earl of Overmore watch.
“What say you to your welcome?” The Earl asks.
“T’was a warm welcome indeed” Silas asks, still some what dazed. “But from whence did you come my Lord?”
Lord Phelonius accepts a goblet of wine from his squire and smiles. “I was informed of your arrival and realising you would take this road, I decided to ride down and meet you myself. I thought the Falcon might try to spring a trap once he learned you were in Thickly Vale”
Silas nods, grateful for loyal allies.
“There now my Lord” Nicolé mutters, as she dabs the last of the crusted blood from his face. “You look as good as new again”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Howard and his men stagger past the out lying sentries and fall to the ground, exhausted. The Falcon looks up from his clay mug.
“Is it done?”
“In truth I know not” Howard replies breathlessly.
“How now?”
“Adley was there. I think we got the Sheriff, but it was close. Very close. We burned Hurdlecote’s house too.”
The Falcon tilts his head to one side quizzically. He rises to his feet, walks a few steps away then returns and shouts at the man lying before him on the ground.
“Hurdlecote’s house?! What good will burning his house do? I sent you to kill the Sheriff!”
“There was no time!” Howard growls. Standing up he glares at the Falcon, but after a few seconds he averts his eyes. Though younger and stronger, the force of will in his leader defeats him.
“Is he dead?” the older man asks in a low voice.
“I think so”
"Where is Peregrino?"
Howard grunts in something close to a laugh. Adley sliced him to pieces.
The Falcon swears under his breath.
"He is not going to like that!..."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The game was an interesting match between uneven forces. Oleg and myself won very early on as Rasmus made a mistake in attcking into the trees. This could be because he was seduced by his horse, by which I mean, instead of trying to reach the far side of the table by the fastest means, he elected to engage the enemy in a fight he had very little chance of winning. Being a knight on horseback may have given him a false sense of security.

Since the victory criteria had been met so early on, and only two of the five players had seen any action, we elected to continue the game. Playing Peregrino, I decided to take advantage of the early victory and attempt a reckless attack. My initial plan had been to take the courtyard and prevent Rasmus from making a run for it, but with Silas downed I decided instead to attack Palle in a knight-on-knight charge. Palle played it safe though and cowered mightily behind his pikemen. The pike were an interesting challenge and by themselves I think I might have mopped the floor with them, but heavily out numbered, Peregrino met the inevitable outcome of his own folly.

I enjoyed the game, despite a head ache, extreme tiredness and a brooding sense of foreboding (that proved baseless). I think every one got a bit of the action, except poor Bettina who had to watch and learn, but I shall make sure the next big scrap is more even (I'm hoping we can do a three-a-side for chapter six).

Chapter five begins on Oct 2nd, if all goes well.

Be there or be square!

Chapter 5.1

2008-09-07T16:05:00.032+02:00

This page is reserved for the second journal of Misteline

The Falcon

2008-09-07T14:20:00.015+02:00

MORDEN FOREST has always been a refuge for OUTLAWS and out-casts, but in recent years as peace and prosperity has swollen the population of NORLAND, so the numbers of OUTLAWS and BANDITS has increased dramatically. THE FALCON is the most famous of all the BANDITS in 1623 and he holds most of MORDEN FOREST as his own land. Since MORDEN FOREST has always been considered an Accursed Place beyond the Authority of TAKSHENDAL, this claim has not met with any contention. However, in the last five or so years, THE FALCON has preyed upon the surrounding lands, stealing livestock and food crops and killing any one who opposed him. Despite his Murderous Reputation, THE FALCON still manages to inspire support amongst the PEASANTS who see him as one of their own, however the true identity of THE FALCON remains unknown.

Other groups inhabit the Forest also, amoongst these are the THE BROTHERS OF THE SACRED GROVE.

These are a sect of Militant DRUIDS who have lurked in the heart of MORDEN FOREST for decades, worshipping EYRU; also known as the GREAT SKY MOTHER. The BROTHERS are said to believe that an ancient grove of Oak Trees that stands in the centre of the forest is a spot once favoured by EYRU as a bower. They believe other such bowers were destroyed by the rapacious appetites of men and have sworn to defend MORDEN FOREST against those whom they considered evil; the land owning classes.

Troop types

2008-06-20T14:09:00.023+02:00

Knights

In combat a Knight is any titled member of the nobility. On the battlefield they are usually well equipped, mounted on the best destrier horses, and bring an entourage of armed followers. Knights are usually easily identified by their heraldry. Knights are traditionally classed as heavy Cavalry and use the full charge as their main offensive tactic. Due to the low numbers of fighting Knights available in Norland however such charges usually require support from well equipped Cavalry.

Esquires

An Esquire is a gentleman of means, often the son of a knight or a wealthy commoner. On the battlefield, an Esquire dresses and acts as a Knight though often with less pomp and without a retinue, for although Yeomen are expected to raise Men-at-Arms, Esquires are not as Esquires are not necesarily land owners. A Yeoman can however also be classed as an Esquire, though in that case he is still expected to raise Men-at-Arms. Nobles who have taken to the battlefield but who bear no title are always considerd to be Esquires reardless of how they fight. There are obscure orders of precedence involved, but these seldom have any practical application on the battlefield. Esquires in skirmish combat fall into the standard element types. Most will be Knights when mounted, and soldiers when on foot.

Men-at-Arms.

Men-at-Arms is a general term used (in the game) to describe any fighting man who is not a member of a standing militia. This includes the Overmore castle guards and any armed retinue belonging to the landed knights and yeomanry, mounted or otherwise. In terms of pay, or fighting ability, there is no real difference between a man-at-arms and a militia guard.

Cavalry

Cavalry are generally held to be the best troops in the field as they combine mobility with brute force, are cheaper and more numerous than Knights and often operate together. Cavalry are usually fielded with full armour making them very expensive. They usually ride destrier or courser horses and some cavalry units are as heavily armoured as knights (these units are also classed as Knights in the OVZ Skirmish Rules). Other Cavalry types include Hobelars and Turcopoles.

Hobelars

Hobelars are light Cavalry, or mounted Infantry, depending on unit. Generally they are considered ineffective in battle and are used for scouting, fast reinforcement or carrying messages. Non fighting units of a Knights retinue are usually also classed as Hobelars.
Hobelars can be any type of Infantry when dismounted, except Pikemen. They ride small fast horses known as hobbies, from which they take their name.

Turcopoles.

These are light horse skirmishers, capable of harrasing an enemy from a safe distance. They specialise in hit and run tactics and usually employ mounted archers firing small composite bows. Some few wear armour but most do not as they seldom come into direct contact with the enemy. They ride small fast horses, hobbies or rouncey's. Turcopoles are quite rare.

Infantry

Men-at-Arms come in a broad variety of quality and ability. Some are full time, highly proffessional soldiers and others are poorly equipped skirmishers who are summoned once or twice a year for training in the eventuality of war. Since Men-at-Arms is a generic term they are usually classed as Soldiers, Pikemen or Skirmishers in the OVZ skirmish rules, depending on which unit they belong to and which arms they are using.

Soldiers are heavy infantry troops usually wearing full or partial armour and employing various hand weapons. Knights when dismounted are usually classed as Soldiers. Men-at-Arms in full armour are very expensive.

Pikemen are trained to fight against cavalry. Typically they form dense formations to bring as many weapons to bear as possible. Usually the heavier armoured pikemen stand at the front and are supported from behind by the lighter troops.

Skirmishers are light troops designed to harass any enemy formations, ideally from a distance with inferior missile weapons, such as stones and javellins. They are very cheap, and are usually unarmoured.

Archers

There are two general types of Archers. Longbowmen and Arbalestiers.

Longbowmen are usually deployed in massed ranks in the field to provide cover for other troop types. They are expensive to train as the long bow requires a great deal of skill to use effectvely, but once fielded are light and fast as Longbowmen do not generally wear armour.

Arbalestiers use crossbows and are usually used in and around fortifications. They tend to be armoured and are sometimes used to support shock troops. Crossbows are easier to use than long bows and require less traiing, yet Arbelstiers tend to cost more due to the nature of their employment. Arbalestiers are often favoured as retinue guards.

Artillery

There are three main types of artillery, and these are made in a variety of ways since there is no standardization to be found any where. Engineers build those engines they know of, in the manner they were taught as apprentices and innovation is rare.

Ballistae are torsion powered weapons, usually taking the form of a large crossbow though sometimes also as a catapult. They come in three general sizes, small, medium and large and are the most common form of artillery. They can fire either stones or large bolts. A medium sized ballista can fire a foot long bolt about 300 metres.

Catapulta (sometimes refered to as an 'Onager') are usually larger than a medium ballistae, catapulta are operated by means of a single torsion cable powering an overhead arm. They are a classic artillery piece, and due to the difficulties of their construction and operation have been largely replaced by the trebuchet. Medium sized catapulta can lob a 10kg rock roughly 200 metres.

Trebuchet also come in a wide variety of types, with some smaller models (known simply as stone throwers) being powered by a crew all heaving together on ropes. Most are medium sized and expensive. Trebuchet fire stones. The largest and most sought after weapon is the Grand Trebuchet. Sometimes standing as high as ten metres, these weapons operate by means of a counter weight which powers an arm and a sling that can propel a 10 kg rock over 800 metres. Medium sized trebuchet have an effective range of 300 metres.

.

The Dragon of Halkyn Mire

2008-05-31T16:45:00.014+02:00

The earliest Documented sighting of the DRAGON dates from the time of KING OGDEN IV. In the year 822 the KING and his Entourage were camped on a hill over looking HALKYN MIRE which in those days was called YAROLFSMARCH, or YAROLFS BOG when they sighted “a gret grene beest, arising from yonder swamp. Fuly 2 score paces long and serpentin was its crop. Wings sprout’d forth of its back and noxios fumes erupt’d from its mouth. The King comand’d all to slay the fell beest and Adain of Meklsbeg, Son of Andar the Proud did bravely step forth and struck the gret wyrm with his sord, which was caled ‘the moromond’ were upon a shower of pestilence erupt’d from the dragon’s funel and Adain fel as if struk with a hamer. The King drew forth his own sord, which was named ‘Anraxar’ and the royal house atack’d the creatur which fled into the sea”.
This Account was recorded by the Nun Sasha of FULKINGTOR who goes on to list Fourteen Honourable Persons present at the Sighting, including KING OGDEN IV, QUEEN Sybella, Four EARLS, the BISHOP of TAKSHENDAL and the visiting DUKE of CASILICUS and his Entourage.

The next known sighting of The DRAGON occurred over Two Hundred Years later in the years 1002 to 1007 when Peasants in the Region complained to the EARL of OVERMORE of missing Sheep. Several people came forth to report having witnessed The DRAGON flying overhead. Different accounts led the EARL to conclude the stories were Fabrications but on 13th Augusta 1006, The DRAGON was sighted by the EARLS Own House Guards. Their report was Scribed thus by Aurelian FENBOCKLE “A Winding, Beast, much as a Snake with Wings, that Coiled and Writhed across the Sky and Struck down at the land with its Tail. It was described as being some Thirty Feet in Length, shimmering Green and Bronze with Dark Spines on its back”.

Over the course of the next few Centuries, stories of The DRAGON continued to reach the Kings of TAKSHENDAL and some where around 1266; KING HAROLF TRUE HEART undertook to put an end to The DRAGON once and for all. In the ages since, this story has become known as The TALE of TRUEHEART and The DRAGON and details vary considerably. The only Contemporary Account was recorded by the LADY Ingeborg GRAMBELINE of OVERMORE, the Daughter of EARL Lorran of OVERMORE who wrote down her Fathers Account.
“The KING with FORTY KNIGHTS and some Five Hundred Men-at-Arms ventured out onto the DALES and set camp. There was a great Excitement amongst the assembled Warriors as the KING had Promised a Purse of 100 Golden Marks to whom ever dealt the Fatal Blow to The DRAGON and many riders scoured the hills and valleys searching for The DRAGON. Suddenly on the Day of the Feast of St STEFANNY The DRAGON Attacked the King and a few close Companions who had ventured to search the Swamp. The DRAGON slew SIR Raymond DASHFERN and SIR Tremlain DOXFOR before the KING dealt it a Mortal Blow and it fled back into the Swamp never to be seen again.”

This Account, which differs considerably from those told by Common Storytellers (See below), is rendered Suspect as The DRAGON continued to be seen by Numerous Peasants and Gentle Folk over the course of the next many years. Whether the King really did slay a DRAGON in the Swamp is Unknown. It is possible that more than one Dragon lived, or lives in the Swamp, but no one has ever reported seeing Two DRAGONS. It is more likely that given his inability to find the Creature, KING HAROLF TRUE HEART actually Fabricated his Fight with The DRAGON in order to Conceal his Failure.

The MONK and SCHOLAR Andmar of WARDLE wrote about the incident in 1440 pointing out that the two dead KNIGHTS lent credibility to the Original Story as they undoubtedly Died, but an Interesting and oft Ignored aspect of the Account is that neither of these Two KNIGHTS were frequent at the Royal Court, though both were related to the KING. It is not above the Realms of Possibility that their Deaths were Politically Motivated and the Tale of the DRAGON was a Convenient Bluff to deflect blame from the KING. This would have been apparent to many at the time, but no one would have been foolish enough to make public any such observation. As it is, the Theory remains Conjecture.

The DRAGON is not Recorded again in any known Document until the winter of 1390 when a Skavvian Raider floundered in the Mouth of the River MARNE and all but one of its crew Perished. The only Survivor of the wreck was picked up by fishermen from MELL and brought back to the village where a local (anonymous) MONK wrote down his Testament. The man was almost dead, but he managed to live long enough to tell the MONK that his ship had been Destroyed by what he described as a DRECKAR. He described The DRAGON as being very Long and very Fast and of having been lurking in the Estuary of the River COLNE.

In 1432 The DRAGON carried out its most Infamous Attack on the CONVENT of St AUGUSTA in the DISTRICT of MEKLSBEG. During the Night of the 16th May ABBESS Arkela MOLEMOUND was woken up by a Great Commotion. She later recalled what happened in an Account of the Attack: “Several Sisters came unto me and Cried that The DRAGON of HALKYN was upon us. I ran out to the Cloister where upon I saw The DRAGON high in the air above us. Flames Spat and Dripped from its mouth and its Body, long and sinuous whirled and coiled in the air. It had two great Bat like wings and its tail was tipped with a dark Arrow-head shaped Horn. Sister Lavinia Was standing near by me and The DRAGON swooped down and fell upon her. I was overcome with noxious vapours and fell to the ground. The DRAGON Breathed Flames and its Breath set Fire to the Buildings. It had no Voice, no Roar like a Bear or Cry like a Bird. The only Sound it made was the Crackling of Flame from its Muzzle and a Constant Whirring Sound from its Body. Its Eyes were Terrible to behold for they shone brightly like twin suns. It Smote the Gate House and Destroyed it and Breathed Fire on all who moved. I lay Petrified in Shock and so I was ignored and I saw The DRAGON take flight once more. It leapt into the sky and Vanished.”

Only a few NUNS survived the Attack on the CONVENT of St AUGUSTA but they all supported ABBESS Arkela MOLEMOUND’s account. Further witnesses from the surrounding farms also reported seeing The DRAGON flying above the Burning CONVENT, though none saw whence it flew. Every account at the time was collected by Andmar of WARDLE who was the foremost expert on the OCCULT in those days and who compiled the first Major Book on the Subject of MYSTERIOUS CREATURES. Andmar of WARDLE was a Contemporary of the ABBESS Arkela MOLEMOUND and saw no reason to discredit her Account.

After 1432 The DRAGON disappeared from First Hand Written Accounts. The local Peasantry continue to report sightings of The DRAGON but these are largely discounted by most Authorities.

Most Accounts describe The DRAGON as being Green and Bronze in colour with dark Wings. It is said to be 30 Yards in length and with dark Spines along its back. Its Head is said to be an Elongated Wedge shape with a Long Mouth and most accounts tell of a long Tail tipped with a Darkened Horn. Some people describe The DRAGON as Glowing or dripping Fire from its Mouth. Others also describe it as Flying with a Curious Swirling Motion.

The TALE of TRUEHEART and The DRAGON

Once Upon a Time, The Great DRAGON of HALKYN MIRE stole away the Young LADY AN of HARTORAK and Great KING HAROLF rode forth on his Steed to do Battle with The DRAGON of HALKYN. For One Hundred Days the KING and His KNIGHTS rode back and forth amongst The DALES seeking the Great Wyrm of CHAOS which fled from them. Finally however they tracked The DRAGON to a Cave in a Hill where from issued a Cloud of Poison. The Hill was Known as CARYN’S HILL and there was a Tower at its Summit.

KING HAROLF drew Forth his Sword and Led the Charge but The DRAGON came forth and Spewed Fire and The KING’S Retinue Fled from the Field of Battle leaving TRUE HEARTED KING HAROLF to face The DRAGON alone. The Mighty KING did not hesitate but pressed on, chasing The DRAGON up the Hill to the Tower where he spied the LADY AN of HARTORAK at a high window.

The DRAGON climbed the Tower and Spouted Fire at KING HAROLF. The Brave KING held up his Shield and Threw a Lance at The Dragon which became so Enraged that it Slithered down the Tower again and Attacked the Noble KING.

TRUEHEART and The DRAGON Fought for a Long Time atop CARYN’S HILL and Neither could gain any advantage over the other. Finally, The Fair Virgin climbed down from the Tower and threw a Rock at The DRAGON. The DRAGON was not Hurt but it turned in Surprise and The KING saw his moment and plunged his Sword deep into The DRAGON’S Neck. A Cankerous Bile burst from the Terrible Creature and it Writhed in Agony, lashing its Tail against the Tower and Destroying it. The Tower fell into Ruin over The DRAGON and buried it.

KING HAROLF BRAVE HEART and the LADY AN of HARTORAK Returned to TAKSHENDAL where they Married and Lived Happily Ever After.

NPC's

2008-05-22T13:41:00.007+02:00

This is a list to briefly explain who all the NPC's are who may appear in the game but who do not have a blog post devoted to them. Note this list will be edited as more NPC's are added to the game.

Captain Morris BLACKKETTLE
Deceased. The Former High Sheriff of the Marne Territories

Doctor Lucius CINDER
A personal physician to the Grand Arch Duke of Takshendal

Lukas D'CASTELLETO
The newly appointed Commisioner of the Militia

Sir Reginald FLATLOCK
The Marshal of Takshendal. Head of the City Militia, and the right hand man of the Grand Arch Duke of Takshendal. Known to be efficient, even ruthless but above all relentless.

Sir Rupert MERRILOCK of Ham
A former client of Misteline. A Knight of the Noble Order of the Ivy. Said to be one of the richest noblemen in Norland. The Father of Lady Katarina Merrilock.

Archibald PILLORSEED
An agent, believed to be working for mysterious Renas Costa. Last seen by Misteline and his companions at the Dark Pools, south of Slapershaven where he had secured the Black Stone.

Adriana Arabella WORMPOLE
Misteline's patroness. Head of the merchant House of Wormpole. Said to be the richest women in the world.

Ristiinná

2008-05-12T22:13:00.022+02:00

The Ristiinná is a two masted, flush decked, blue water trading ship from Skavva. She belongs to the type of vessel known on the Starshine Sea as a búza, is 20 metres long on the berth deck, displacing roughly 85 tons. She is square rigged on her main mast and gaff rigged on her aft mast.

She is owned by the Arikavla family who live aboard and sail her as is customary amongst Skavian traders, and her Captain is Ovla Arikavla. She has a crew of twelve adults and several children. Her hull is painted blue and her sails and trim are a faded yellow. A sunburst motif is painted across her helm. The Ristiinná is a familiar sight in Snoad where she makes a stop once or twice each year to trade foreign goods for agricultural produce.

Skavva is the generic name of the cold, sporadic lands which lie to the north of the Starshine Sea. It is a land of forests, fjords, small princedoms and bustling trader ports. Skavians are noted sailors, famed for their hardiness and intrepid spirit and feared for their rapacious greed. Skavian traders sail in a variety of clinker built ships ranging through the old fashioned knarrs and kogges, to the more modern búzas and carracks. Skavian raiders usually sail in xebecs and are sometimes known to attack coastal communities.

Here is a picture of another, slightly larger Búza seen from the rear under full sail. Note the sailing rig is the same as the Ristiinná's.

The full adult crew of the Ristiinná are:

Ovla Arikavla (Captain and oldest brother)
Gáddjá Harkki-Arikavla (Ovla's wife)
Kálle Arikavla (Ovla's oldest son)
Yrsullá Jalkenen-Arikavla (Kálle's wife)
Bávval Arikavla (Ovla's son)
Állet Arikavla (Ovla's oldest brother)
Bierril Arikavla (Ovla's cousin)
Mikkhu Arikavla (Ovla's brother)
Rávdná Koskela-Arikavla (Mikkhu's wife)
Láras Arikavla (Ovla's youngest brother)
Máret Arikavla (Ovla's unmarried sister)
Máijjá Sariola (Family friend)

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Guards! Seize them!

2008-05-06T00:09:00.007+02:00

Concept sketch

The guards of Overmore Castle are slightly heavier than the typical soldiery found in Norland as they wear steel cuirassiers over a padded harness and an early form of morion helmets (rather than the popular kettle helmets). This is mostly due to the fact that they are frontier troops and are constantly in conflict with outlaws, pirates and bandits. The Castle employs several dozen guards, at least eight of whom are classed as cavalry with extra armour (steel vambraces and tassets) and expensive courser horses. They employ a variety of weapons such as pikes, spears and crossbows depending on circumstances.

These guards are not the only representatives of the law in the region but they do hold the Earls authority which grants them power over all other local militia and there are usually some to be found in each village. Some of the other local land owners also maintain armed guards but these do not have the full authority of the Earl. Since most of the Overmore guards come from local villages anyway, their presence causes no serious problems and in light of the many bandits in the lands surrounding Morden Forest and the Salten Reach, the villagers are usually glad to have them around.

Despite its location Overmore Castle has no naval units.

Overmore

2008-05-04T21:51:00.019+02:00

Old map of the Overmore Estate belonging to Misteline

Overmore is an ancient castle originally built by King Olric V of Takshendal to control the Marne Estuary but since rebuilt and resettled by later generations. It has passed thorugh several families since it was founded, but is currently the home of the Earl of Overmore; Phelonius of the ancient House of Grambeline and his wife, the Lady Jacinta d'Castelleto.

To the north is the great expanse of the Salten Reach and beyond that lies the Starshine Sea. To the South is the primordial Morden Forest and beyond that the barony of Wapontak. Overmore Castle stands on a hill over looking the distant estuary. All its lands are comfortably in the east and the house of Grambeline stands alone and isolated but for the huddled village of Snoad.

The villages of Thickly Vale, Snoad, Marriot, Gallowe, Grippen, Knowles End and Grenehowe all belong to the County of Overmore. The estimated total population of Phelonius Grambeline's territory is 5,000 souls. Overmore is not considered a rich holding but the Grambeline family is very old and distantly connected to the House of Milcote. Phelonius Grambeline is also the only Earl left in Norland with all his contemporaries bearing the lesser title of Baron.

There is a wildness to the countryside around the castle. The great expanse of the mire and the wind swept hills which march away to the north east have always been a bleak setting for this ancient fortress and few travellers ever come to Overmore. The surrounding countryside, especially Morden Forest, is rife with bandits and outcasts and wolves can often be heard howling on the winds at night. Folk lore and superstition proliferate amongst the commoners and a great many people in the region refuse to go out after nightfall.

Halkyn Mire is even said to be home to a mystical beast of some kind. Most people refer to it as the Halkyn Dragon as eye witnesses have often reported seeing a large winged serpent flying over the moor. This creature is rumoured to have lived for centuries and in some stories the dragon is even said to have slain a former Baron of Overmore refered to as Meinolf.

Geography

2008-05-02T23:37:00.027+02:00

Official map of the lands between Takshendal and Feckletor.

Takshendal is the largest city north of the mountains in the lands known colloquially as Norland. It is a large walled city with an estimated population of 90,000 people and it maintains legal hegemony over the lands as far west as the River Marne, though in practice this territory is largely controlled by the land owning Barons. Ten generations ago Takshendal was a kingdom, but the last king disapeared under mysterious circumstances and without any obvious heir. Eventually, after much wrangling, and a few small battles, the Royal holdings passed as inheitence to the minor House of Milcote, and thus the reign of the Archdukes began. The fifth Archduke of Takshendal was subject to delusions of grandeur and adopted the prefix Grand in order to fully cement the line of Milcote as undisputed rulers of the city. Takshendal therefore is officially a Grand Duchy and its authority rests on that legal basis. Because it was once a Kingdom however its laws are adopted every where within its old royal borders

There are seven Baronies on the map, these are Fulkingtor, Doxfortor, Varanges, Wapontak, Overmore, Keresfan and Feckletor. All are ancient houses (hence their old fashioned names) established during the time of Kings and retain wide sweeping autonomy, but they are all subject to the suzerainty of the Grand Arch Duke of Takshendal.

There are two major towns beside Takshendal (which is classed as a city) both on the River Weyr. These are Castelopea to the south of Takshendal and Haven on the Weyr Estuary. Both are belong to Takshendal, Haven is a territory owned outright by the Grand Arch Duke, and Castelopea, governed by the powerful Gismondo family, is a subject territory of Takshendal.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Broadhart & Bluecotes Atlas of 1610
(More maps to follow in time)

Abaya – A populous region of northern Jungolan
Akadi – A desert region in southern Turskûr.
Apia – A region of Orientana, situated on the south western coast.
Aquilea – A major city-state in southern Regnia with circa 60,000 inhabitants
Arus – A minor city-state, though the largest city in Skavva with circa 25,000 inhabitants. Situated on the northern shore of the Starshine sea.
Ashub - A region on the south coast of Turskûr.
Axor – A major city-state on the northern (equitorial) coast of Jungolan in the province of Abaya with circa 60,000 inhabitants.
Bazilia – A distant land situated on the western shores of the Lejano Sea.
Cambri – A major town in northern Regnia with circa 10,000 inhabitants, just south of the Rapthia mountains
Casilicus – A major city-state in northern Regnia with circa 60,000 inhabitants
Castelopea – A major town in Norland with circa 8,000 inhabitants, just north of the Rapthia mountains
Celestial Sea – A distant sea located beyond Mare Illuminus.
Côte d’Argent – A southern region of Vosti, on the northern coast of the Silver Sea, settled by people from Merdun and Occitania
Ezo – A major city-state in Kangnido with circa 400,000 inhabitants.
Grande Mare – A large sea to the east of Regnia and Turksûr.
Great Northern Ocean – A major sea officially situated to the north east of the myriad sea but whose expanse reaches right around the orthern hemisphere and forms the region known as ’the Frozen North’ (northern pole).
Haven – A trading port on the Weyr estuary
Huaura – A region of northern Bazilia.
Jara – A peninsula on the south eastern edge of Regnia.
Jungolan – A distant land.
Kangnido – A region of Sinopia on the south western coast.
Kwala – A populous region on the northern coast of Jungolan
Lejano Sea – A major sea situated to the south west of Regia.

Castillion, Lyonessa, Occitania, Cote d'Argent and Merdun. 1609

Lyonessa – An island situated to the west of Occitania.
Lyubsha – A distant region east of Orientana.
Machia – A city-state in eastern Regnia with circa 50,000 inhabitants
Marchastel – A major city-state in northern Merdun with circa 40,000 inhabitants
Mare di Fuoco – A major sea which seperates the Regnia landmass from the Turskür landmass. Name means sea of fire, but the sea is often called the Innermost Sea by people from the northern lands.
Mare Illuminus – A sea situated to the west of the Silver Sea and to the north west of Lyonessa.
Mare Piccolo – Situated to the east of Mare di Fuoco and to the west of Il Grande Mare.
Merdun – A region to the west of Norland.
Mursula – A region running south of the Rapthia mountains and north of the Pericola mountains.
Myriad Sea – Situated to the north east of the Starshine sea, so named for its many islands.
Norland – The region north of the Rapthia mountains.
Occitania – An island to the west of Merdun.
Orientana – A major island and a region to the north east of Regnia.
Overmore – A county of Norland bordering the river Marne, Morden forest and the Salten Reach.
Pericola mountains – A minor line of mountains which runs parrellel with the Rapthians.
Qataban – A desert region in southern Turskûr.
Rapthia mountains – The mountain range which seperates Norland from Regnia.

Regnia in 1606

Regnia – The region south of the Rapthia mountains, also sometimes the entire landmass which is comprised of Regnia, Norland, Jara and Merdun.
Saba – A populous region on the south coast of Turskûr.
Sabaean Sea – A major sea seperating the Turskûr landmass from Jungolan.
Saga Sea – A sea to the south of Kangnido.
Salten Reach – a coastal region of Norland
Serrenisma – A major city-state in southern Regnia with circa 75,000 inhabitants. Located on the northern shore of the Innermost Sea, known locally as the Mare di fuoco (Sea of Fire) .
Shadow Sea – Located to the west of the Starshine Sea and north of Merdun. So named due its deep and dark waters.
Sibelus – A distant land to the west of Vosti.
Silenzio sea – Situated to the south of the Myriad Sea.
Silver Sea – Situated to the north west of the Shadonw Sea and north of Occitania.
Sindhu – A region of eastern Jungolan seperated into two distinct lands. Sindhu Tuska and Sindhu Qata.
Sinopia – A distant land.

Skavva in 1604

Skavva – The lands to the north of the Starshine Sea. Ruled by many petty kings, princes and warlords.
Sorgün – A city-state in northern Turskûr with circa 80,000 inhabitants
Starshine sea – The sea to the north of Norland and south of Skavva
Takshendal – A major city-state straddling the river Weyr in Norland with circa 90,000 inhabitants.
Tierre Perdida – A peninsula situated on the eastern coast of the Turskur landmass. Name means ’The Lost World’.

Turskûr in 1606

Turskûr – A distant land some where to the south of Regnia. Borders Jungolan and Sinopia.
Vicopelago - A major city-state in Apia, in south western Orientana with circa 50,000 inhabitants.
Vosti – A largely desolate region to the west of Skavva. Inhabited by nomadic tribes.
Xindu: The Golden City – The capital city of Sinopia with circa 1,500,000 inhabitants. Said to be the greatest city in the world. The seat of power of the Empress of Sinopia.
Yaxartes – A major city-state in southern Turskûr with circa 200,000 inhabitants.
Zallaqa – A major city-state on the Tierra Perdida peninsula with circa 80,000 inhabitants.
Zubar – A region of north western Turskûr.

Blog news and updates

2008-04-30T02:13:00.009+02:00

Misteline

The Dark Marches is a concept for a sequel to Takshenda l. At this early stage I am not sure if I will develop this game or whether I will develop Flight of the Gunnhilda, and until I am sure this blog will remain 'hypothetical'.

The Dark Marches is designed to carry on the story of Misteline and his companions, so in effect this will be chapters four and five of Takshendal.